What if my existing shower drain does not line up with the Ella base?
If your existing shower drain does not line up with the drain molded into the Ella base you want, you have three ways forward: have a licensed plumber relocate the drain line, choose a different Ella base whose molded drain position matches your line, or order a custom-size base with the drain placed to suit your plumbing. The drain opening on a given model cannot be moved on request, as Can I Choose a Left, Right, or Center Drain on an Ella Shower? explains, so the decision needs to be made before the order is placed rather than on the day the base is set.
Why the Base Cannot Adapt to Your Drain
Ella shower bases and one-piece stalls come out of a mold with the drain opening formed as part of the floor. Most Ella stalls and bases are center drain, some bases are molded with a left-hand drain only, and the standard acrylic bases in 30x60, 32x60 and 36x60 inches are each offered with a left or right drain. Whichever base you choose, its drain sits in a set position, and the factory does not shift it for an individual order.
That position is documented on the Specification drawing for each model as the distance from the back wall and from the side wall to the center of the drain opening. The figures differ from model to model and with the drain position. As two examples from the drawings, one right-drain base places the drain center 15 1/2 inches from the back wall and 9 1/2 inches from the front, while one center-drain base places it 19 inches from the back wall and 24 inches from the side wall. Shower Drain Rough-In: How Far the Drain Sits From the Back Wall and Side Wall explains how to get the drawing for your exact model and drain position.
Measure the Mismatch Before You Decide
- Get the Specification drawing for the exact model and drain position you are considering. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 for it if you do not have it, and say which drain position you mean, because each position has its own numbers.
- Have your plumber measure from the center of your existing drain pipe to the wall framing behind it and to the framing on the nearer side wall. The base sits against the framing once finish materials are removed, so measure to the studs where possible.
- Compare your two measurements with the back-wall and side-wall figures on the drawing.
- If the numbers match within the tolerance your plumber is comfortable with, the base can be set over the existing line and you can order as planned.
- If they do not match, decide with your plumber which of the three options below fits your floor and your remodel.
Do this check early. A drain that does not line up is usually discovered only when the base is set on the floor, which is the hardest point to change course.
Your Three Options Compared
| Option | What changes | Figures Ella publishes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relocate the drain line | Your plumber moves the trap and drain line to match the drawing for the base you want | Rough-in is read from the Specification drawing for your model and drain position | Remodels where the floor is already open and the base you want is a standard size |
| Choose a different standard base | You pick a size whose molded drain lands on your existing line | 30x60, 32x60 and 36x60 inches, each with a left or right drain | A 60 inch opening between 30 and 36 inches wide with a drain near one end |
| Order a custom-size base | The factory molds a rectangle to your length and width with the drain left, right or center | Rectangle only, from 30 by 30 inches up to 44 by 80 inches, drain at least 9 inches from each wall, threshold about 3 inches or zero threshold | Spaces a standard footprint will not fit, or a drain that cannot be moved |
| Curb-less roll-in pan | Same three standard footprints with the drain position specified when you order | 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches | Wheelchair access with a barrier free entry |
The differences come down to what is easier to change, the floor or the base. When the floor is open, moving the drain line is routine work for a plumber and keeps you on a standard base with a known drain position. When the drain cannot move, for example on a concrete slab with no access from below, the base has to come to the drain, which means either a standard size whose drain happens to match or a custom base built around your line. The custom route has firm limits, so read the next section before assuming it will solve every layout.
Custom Base Limits That Decide Whether Option Three Works
A custom base is made only as a rectangle. Neo-angle corners, curved fronts and any other non-rectangular footprint are not offered, so the first question for an unusual room is whether a rectangle can be drawn into it, either as a three-wall alcove or as a two-wall corner installation. The team asks which layout you have so the drain and the edges are placed correctly. The largest custom base is 44 inches wide by 80 inches long, and a request beyond that, such as 53 by 76 inches, cannot be produced. A 38 by 80 inch base with a left drain is within the limits, and a custom 58x30 inch base with a center drain has been produced.
The drain on a custom base can be placed left, right or center, but it must sit at least 9 inches from each wall. A drain only 7 inches from the threshold edge is not possible even on a custom base, so if your existing line is very close to a wall, a custom base alone may not rescue it and the plumber may still need to move the line a few inches. What Is the Largest Custom Shower Base Ella's Bubbles Can Make? lists these limits in full. If your drain is in an unusual spot, or the installation is on a slab with no access from below, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with a simple drawing of the space showing the walls, the size you want and where the existing drain is. The team confirms whether a base can be made to match and what drain hardware ships with it.
What This Means for Your Bathroom and Your Plumber
- Ella does not send technicians. Your local licensed plumber measures the existing line, relocates it if that is the plan, sets the base and makes the drain connection.
- Ella pans, standard or custom, arrive as finished acrylic and do not need to be tiled over, so once the drain is connected the remaining work is the walls around the base. How do you build a custom shower pan or base? explains why nothing is formed or lined on site.
- Ella also makes cultured marble bases in three sizes. They are heavy and need at least two people to set, which is worth telling your contractor before delivery day.
- A custom base typically has a threshold of about 3 inches, and zero threshold bases sit flush with the surrounding floor. The threshold style affects how the base meets your floor and your plumbing rough-in, so settle it at the same time as the drain position. The general base and wall options are described in Shower Bases and Wall Panels.
- Custom sizes have not always been offered and the maximum size has been corrected in the past, so treat older brochures and forum answers with care and confirm the current limits with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before anyone cuts the floor.
Related Guides
- Custom-Size Shower Bases: Size Ranges, Threshold Options, Drain Placement Rules, Construction, and How to Request One
- Shower Base Sizes and Thresholds Compared: AcrylX Barrier-Free, SMC Linear-Drain, Molded-Seat and Cultured Marble Bases
- What the Ella Acrylic Shower Base Is Made Of and How It Is Installed
Common Questions
Can Ella move the drain on a standard base to match my plumbing?
How far from the wall can the drain sit on a custom base?
Which standard Ella base sizes come with a left or right drain?
What should I send if my floor is a concrete slab with no access below?
Do I have to tile over the base after the drain is connected?
Who connects the Ella base to my existing drain line?
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