Which End Does the Elite Extension Panel Go On in a 60 Inch Alcove?

The Ella Elite's 7 inch extension panel goes on whichever end of the tub was specified on your order, because the stainless steel shelf brackets that carry it are built into the frame at that end only. In a 60 inch alcove the panel closes the gap between the Elite's 52 inch length and the wall at the ordered end, while the other end of the tub sits against the opposite wall. What Is an Extension Panel (Filler Kit) on a Walk-In Tub? explains the part itself; this page covers how the end is chosen on the Elite, what the gap looks like in a standard opening, and what to check before installation day.

What the Elite Ships with

The Elite is a 30 inch by 52 inch walk-in tub in the stainless steel inward-swing door family. Its current spec sheet lists an actual size of 30 inches wide by 52 inches long by 35 inches high, a 22 inch seat, and a crated shipping size of 32 by 54 by 50 inches. In the box are one reversible end panel and one 7 inch extension panel, along with the removable front apron with two access panels, a stainless steel deck and wall-mounted grab bar, a removable swivel tray, and two 2 inch four-port drains with two overflows.

The two panels have different jobs, and the names are easy to mix up. The reversible end panel covers an end of the tub that stands exposed, hiding the plumbing and the frame, and it fits either end. The extension panel fills the gap between a tub shorter than 60 inches and the wall of a standard three-wall alcove. It rests on adjustable stainless steel shelf brackets that are part of the tub frame, is trimmed on site, and doubles as a handy shelf. It does not add length to the tub, so the interior dimensions and the 22 inch seat are unchanged.

Why the End Is Decided Before the Tub Is Built

Every Ella tub shorter than 60 inches includes one extension panel, left or right as specified on your order. The panel mounts on shelf brackets built into the frame at that end, so a frame built for a right-hand panel has no brackets on the left, and the reverse is also true. On the Elite, as on the Capri, brackets can be fitted to both ends only when that is requested before the tub is built. An Elite panel that fits only one end is therefore behaving exactly as ordered.

That is why the extension panel side is chosen together with the door side and the drain side when the Elite is configured. A little planning before the order is placed saves a ticket later:

• Stand where you will face the finished tub and note which end wall the gap will fall against once the tub is in the opening.
• Decide which end should sit flush to the wall and which end should carry the 7 inch panel.
• Give your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 the panel side at the same time as the door side and the drain side.
• If you want the freedom to mount the panel on either end, ask for brackets on both ends before the tub is built, since that is a factory option.

Ella's video on extension and end panels shows both pieces in place: the reversible end panel covering the exposed end of a tub set in a corner, and the extension panel, which can be placed on the right side or the left side of a tub shorter than 60 inches so it fits a standard 60 inch tub alcove. The video also notes that you can opt out of receiving the end panel or the extension panel if your layout does not need it.

How the Gap Works Out in a 60 Inch Opening

Most bathrooms were framed around a 60 inch bathtub, so that is the opening you are usually filling. Panel widths follow the tub length, which is why the Elite and its 52 inch relatives share the same 7 inch panel while longer tubs use a narrower one or none at all. The figures below come from the current spec sheets and the extension panel guide.

For an Elite owner the table says two things. First, the panel is sized for a standard opening, so a true 60 inch alcove needs nothing beyond the panel that ships in the box. Second, the side matters only because of the brackets, not because of the panel itself: the panel is the same 7 inch piece whichever end it goes on. If your alcove measures slightly under 60 inches or is out of square, the panel is designed to be cut on site. If the gap is wider than the panel covers, your installer frames and finishes the remaining space, which is also what happens on the models that ship without a panel.

Fitting the Panel on Installation Day

Your installer sets and levels the tub first and fits the extension panel last. Alcoves are rarely square, so the gap is measured at the top and the bottom, the panel is trimmed to the wall, and the brackets are adjusted so the panel sits level with the deck. The kit hardware secures it and the seams are sealed with silicone. Before any of that, the extension panel, the end panel and the front apron must be removed before the tub is carried into the house, and the tub is lifted only by the frame.

The installation tips video for the Standard, another 30 by 52 tub, shows the arrangement most owners picture: the end panel on the faucet side and the 7 inch extension panel on the other end, mounted for a snug fit in a 60 inch alcove. The video adds a tip for a tight opening, trimming the corner piece off the main apron for a cleaner fit, or sliding the tub in with the standard end piece and apron without using an end panel. That footage is of the Standard, whose apron differs from the Elite's, so treat it as something for your installer to confirm on your tub rather than a step to copy.

Two accessory details change when an Elite sits in an alcove with the panel in place. A shower column installed on a tub with an extension panel uses the long 4 to 5 inch pipe connector to reach the wall, and the 4-fold glass screen converts to a 3-fold screen by removing one section, which is how it fits a 52 inch tub in a 60 inch alcove. Mention the alcove and the panel when you ask about either accessory. Because the plumbing end of the tub is against a wall in an alcove, ask your installer to add a wall access panel behind that end so the drains and connections stay reachable. What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub? covers that planning in more depth.

If the Panel Does Not Fit the End You Expected

Start with your order paperwork, which records the extension panel side along with the door and drain sides. Then look at both ends of the frame for the adjustable shelf brackets. If only one end has them, that is the end the panel fits. Next, measure the opening wall to wall at the back and at the front, as described in How do I measure my bathtub and alcove for a replacement?, and compare it with the Elite's actual size rather than its nominal name.

If the panel side on your paperwork does not match the brackets on your frame, or you need brackets or a panel for the other end, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model, serial number, door side, a photo of each end of the frame and a sketch of the alcove with measurements in inches. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 will confirm what was built and what can be added. The troubleshooting page Why Doesn't the Extension Panel Attach on the Faucet Side? walks through the same checks in order.

Related Guides

• What Is an End Panel on a Walk-In Tub?
• Will it fit my alcove? Extension panels, end panels, and 60 inch spaces
• The Extension Panel: What Ships With Your Tub, Where It Installs, and When to Set It Aside

Common Questions