If your walk-in tub door rubs the frame or jamb as it closes, the most common reason is that the tub has bowed slightly downward in the middle because the leveling legs are not all carrying equal weight. The fix is usually simple: raise the center of the tub by extending the center leveling leg until the door frame opens up and the door swings clear. A rubbing door is worth correcting promptly, because a door that cannot close squarely into its frame can go on to leak.

Watch the Fix First

As our technician explains in the video: a lot of times when the door rubs the jamb, it is because the tub is bowed down. To fix that, you raise the tub up from the center by extending, or stretching, the leveling leg. That makes the tub open up, the door frame opens up, and the door clears the swing and the jamb.

Why Leveling Matters This Much

In this clip an Ella dealer explains why the threaded leveling feet matter: they let the installer level the tub on an uneven floor, and having more feet spreads the weight, reduces subfloor movement and frame twist, and protects the silicone seams. Where other tubs offer four or six corner feet, Ella adds center legs, with the configuration varying by model. That center leg is the one that opens up a pinched door frame.

Ella tubs have at least six leveling legs, and many models have as many as eight, to evenly disperse the weight of the tub, the water, and the bather. It is imperative that each of these legs is solidly on the ground with no gaps. If any leg hangs free or carries less weight than the others, the frame and shell can warp, the door goes out of alignment, and the door may not close securely, which can lead to leaks. Misleveling that causes damage is also outside the warranty, so correct leveling protects your coverage as well as your floor. The tub is leveled at the factory before shipping, and the installer must re-verify it on your floor; our leveling guide covers that installation-day check.

Step-By-Step Leveling Check

1. Remove the front apron so you can see the leveling legs.
2. Check each leg in turn: every foot must rest firmly on the floor with no gap between the floor and the leg.
3. If the door rubs at the top of its swing, extend the center leg to raise the middle of the tub slightly, which opens the door frame.
4. Adjust each remaining leg so it sits solidly and shares the weight equally.
5. Place a level on all sides of the tub and take careful measurements on all sides. Adjust legs as necessary until the tub reads level in every direction.
6. On the Standard and Zen platform, also confirm the front legs are screwed into the subfloor, as the manual requires for stability.
7. Test the door: it should swing without rubbing and close smoothly into a watertight seal. Extending or shortening legs is also the correct way to close up any visible gap between the door and its frame.

Confirm the Result

After adjusting, close the door and fill the tub a few inches above the door threshold, let it stand, and check that no water appears at the door. A door that closes smoothly and passes a standing-water check is aligned. If the rub returns, re-check the legs; floors can settle over time, and a seasonal re-check takes only a few minutes. If the tub is level and the door still drags, the next things to look at are the handle tension and the hinge, covered in our lock nut and hinge adjustment guide, and the seal itself, covered in what to check when there is water at the door.

Two Things Not to Do

• Please do not force a rubbing door closed; that stresses the hinges and the seal instead of fixing the cause.
• Please do not lean on the door to make it line up. The door holds its own weight only, and pressing a bather's weight onto it can change the alignment you just corrected.

Common Questions

For anything specific to your model or serial number, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850, and please attach photos so the team can help you quickly.