What If the End Panel Is Too Short and Leaves a Wall Gap?

An end panel is not designed to reach the wall on its own, so a gap between the panel and the wall almost always means the tub has been pulled off the wall or the alcove is longer than the tub, not that the panel is short. The end panel is molded to cover the full end of the tub with a little overlap, and it adds no length; only the extension panel fills an alcove gap. Start by confirming where the tub actually sits, then decide whether you need to move the tub, add an extension panel, or simply caulk a thin seam. What Is an End Panel on a Walk-In Tub? explains the part itself.

What the End Panel Is Built to Do

Every Ella walk-in tub ships with one reversible end panel that covers the exposed short end of the tub, hiding the shell edge, plumbing and frame in a corner installation. If the tub sits in the right corner, the panel goes on the exposed left end, and the reverse for a left corner. It is a cosmetic cover with no structural role, held by two white screws at the bottom that fasten it to the mounting brackets. On the side that goes against the wall it bends over with a short return lip of about an inch. The panel runs across the end of the tub, not out to the wall, which is why the tub itself needs to be against the wall for the joint to close.

Why the Gap Appears at the Wall

There are three situations behind almost every wall gap, and each has a different fix.

• The tub was pulled away from the wall. When a panel is slightly longer than the opening between the finished wall and the front apron, installers sometimes slide the tub out to make room. Ella's support team calls this the wrong fix, because it leaves a gap between the wall and the end of the tub. The right fix is to keep the tub in its final, leveled position and trim the panel on its wall-side edge, as described in End Panel Too Long for the Opening: Trimming It to Fit.
• The alcove is longer than the tub. A tub shorter than the alcove leaves open space at one end, and no end panel will bridge it. That space is the job of the extension panel, the only panel that adds length.
• A thin seam at the joint. With the tub against the wall and the panel screwed to its brackets, a small seam where the panel meets tile or backer board is closed with caulk. Walls are rarely plumb, so the seam may be wider at the top than the bottom.

What to Check, in Order

1. Confirm the tub is in its final position, leveled, with the front apron installed. Do not measure or cut anything with the tub sitting loose.
2. Look at the exposed end. If the tub's end is not touching the wall, the tub needs to go back against it, and the panel gets trimmed to fit the narrower opening rather than the tub moving out.
3. Measure from the finished wall surface to the edge of the apron where the end panel seats, at the top and at the bottom. Compare that with the panel along the same edge.
4. If the tub is tight to the wall and the gap still runs the full height of the panel, measure the open space between the tub end and the alcove wall. That is extension panel territory.
5. If the gap is a thin, uneven seam, drive the two bottom screws, cover them with the trim caps, and caulk the wall joint.

When the Answer Is an Extension Panel

Any Ella walk-in tub shorter than 60 inches comes with an extension panel so the tub fits a standard 60 inch alcove. It can be placed on the right side of the tub or on the left. Because a customer can opt out of receiving it to reduce plastic waste, an order placed without one is the usual reason a tub arrives with no extension panel. The panel rests on integrated stainless steel shelf support brackets that are part of the tub frame and fully adjustable, so it doubles as a sturdy shelf for towels and bath items. If the alcove is out of square or an unusual size, the extension panel can be trimmed so the tub fits seamlessly. The video below walks through the reversible end panel and the extension panel, where each goes, and the reminder that every removable panel comes off before the tub is moved into the bathroom. To order one after delivery, follow Where Do I Buy an Extension Panel for My Walk-In Tub?.

Replacing an End Panel That Really Is Too Short

If an end panel was trimmed too far during a first attempt, or it arrived cracked, it can be replaced. Panels are cut for a specific model and door side, so the request needs your model, the serial number from the label behind the magnetic access panel next to the door, and which end of the tub is exposed. A panel that arrives cracked is freight damage: photograph it, save all the packaging, and report it within 48 hours of delivery through ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850, and let where you purchased know as well. Trimming some or all of the return lip on the wall side does not weaken the panel, since it has no structural components and stays put on its two bottom screws, so a panel with a shortened lip does not need replacing on that account.

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: End Panels And Extension Panels with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• How to Add a Second End Panel to Your Walk-In Tub Order or Buy One Later
• Extension panels and filler kits: fitting your walk-in tub into a 60 inch alcove
• Will it fit my alcove? Extension panels, end panels, and 60 inch spaces

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