Drilling an Ella Acrylic Shower Wall for Accessories, and Whether Third-Party Window Kits Will Fit

You can add accessories to an Ella acrylic shower wall with a standard drill, as long as you run it at low speed and use a bit made for acrylic. Speed builds heat and stress in acrylic, and either one can crack the panel around the hole. Third-party add-ons such as a window trim kit may work with an Ella stall, but Ella cannot guarantee that another manufacturer's kit will fit or seal, so treat those projects as your own.

Why Acrylic Needs a Different Technique

Acrylic is a thermoplastic. A bit spinning fast builds heat at the cutting edge, softens the material and leaves a rough, stressed hole that can crack later rather than on the day you drill it. A standard twist bit made for wood or metal also tends to grab as it breaks through, which chips the back face of the panel. Low speed and a bit ground for plastics avoid both problems.

The Right Drill and Bit

Any ordinary corded or cordless drill will do. Set it to its low speed range and keep it there. For the bit, Ella recommends a specialized acrylic drill bit with these characteristics:

• A point angle between 90 and 135 degrees.
• A neutral or 0 degree rake angle, so the bit scrapes the material rather than digging into it.
• High-speed steel (HSS) construction or a brad point design, which helps prevent chipping and cracking.

Bits sold for plastics or acrylic at a hardware store usually list these specifications on the package.

Drilling the Wall

1. Decide where the accessory will mount and confirm what is behind that spot. Anything that will carry weight, such as a grab bar, must be fastened into the reinforced backing built into the panel. The zones are mapped in the grab bar mounting guide.
2. Mark each hole from the accessory's template or by holding the accessory in place.
3. Fit the acrylic bit and set the drill to low speed.
4. Start each hole with light pressure and let the bit cut at its own pace. Forcing it raises heat and stress.
5. Ease off the pressure as the bit reaches the back of the panel so it does not grab and chip the exit side.
6. Follow the accessory manufacturer's directions for fasteners and sealing. For Ella grab bars, the screw guidance is in the mounting guide linked above.

Third-Party Window Kits and Other Add-Ons

Shoppers sometimes ask whether a window trim kit from another brand can be fitted to an Ella stall. You can try it, but Ella cannot guarantee it will work. The fit, the seal and the long-term performance of a third-party kit depend on that kit's design and your installer's work, and none of that is within Ella's control. Other accessory questions shoppers raise are collected in the showering add-ons and accessories article.

The same principle applies to hardware from other suppliers. If you would prefer a grab bar that Ella does not offer, read whether Ella can factory-install a third-party grab bar before you order.

Related Guides

• Acrylic 6-Piece Wall Panel Kit: Size, Shelves, Thickness and How It Compares to the 3-Piece Surround and SMC Panels
• How to Get Pricing and Order Ella Grout-Free Shower Wall Tiles: Measuring Your Walls and Estimating Boxes
• Installing the SMC 12-Piece Wall Kit, Acrylic Tub Surrounds, the 3-Panel Kit, Tongue-and-Groove Wall Tiles and Palisade Vinyl Tiles

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.