What Does Free End Panel Mean, and Is One Included With Every Tub?

The free end panel is the one reversible end panel that comes with every Ella walk-in tub. It is part of the tub as shipped, and it covers whichever short end of the tub is left open to the room. A second end panel is a separate purchase that you need only when both short ends are exposed, as explained in How to Add a Second End Panel to Your Walk-In Tub Order or Buy One Later.

What the Included End Panel Is

An end panel is a finished cover for a short end of the tub. It hides the shell edge, the plumbing and the frame so that the exposed end looks as finished as the front. Every Ella walk-in bathtub comes with one, and it is reversible, which means it can be placed on either side of the tub.

The corner example makes this easy to picture. If the tub sits in the right side corner of the bathroom, the wall covers the right end and the reversible end panel goes on the opposite left side. If the tub sits in the left corner, the panel is reversed and goes on the right. You do not have to choose a left or right panel for a corner layout, because the same included panel serves either end.

The one-panel-included arrangement applies across the lineup, including outward-swing models such as the Monaco and the Capri and stainless-door models such as the Elite. The end panels and extension panels video on this page shows the panel being placed on either end of a tub and explains when a second one is needed.

When One Panel Is Enough and When You Need Two

The number of end panels you need comes from the room, so sketch the layout and count the short ends that will be visible.

• Three-wall alcove. The walls cover both ends, so the included panel is all the layout calls for.
• Corner. One end meets a wall and the included panel covers the other.
• Against a single back wall with both ends open. The included panel covers one end and a second end panel covers the other.
• Standing in the middle of a large bathroom. Both short ends are open, so a second panel is needed here as well.

The second end panel is the same reversible part as the first, so it works on either end. It is purchased at an additional cost and can be added to your order before it ships or bought later through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. End panels are cut for a specific model and door side, so a request needs your model, your serial number and which side the door is on. The serial number is on the label behind the magnetic access panel next to the door. Fitting it is simple once the tub is in place, leveled and water tested, and How Do I Install a Second End Panel on a Freestanding Ella Tub? walks through the steps.

What the End Panel Does Not Cover

The included panel finishes a short end. It does not finish every side, and knowing the limits helps you plan the room.

• The front. The front is covered by its own removable apron, which is always finished. There are typically two easily removable access panels in it for reaching the plumbing and other components.
• The back. No Ella model has a factory back panel for the long side opposite the door. The back sits against a wall, or your contractor frames a short wall behind it. What Is a Knee Wall Behind a Walk-In Tub? explains how that works.
• An alcove gap. The end panel does not add any length to the tub. The part that fills the space between a shorter tub and the wall is the extension panel.

If your plan has the tub away from the walls, Can My Walk-In Tub Sit Freestanding With the Sides Exposed? walks through each placement and what covers each side.

End Panel or Extension Panel: Two Different Parts

These two panels are often confused because both arrive with the tub and both sit at an end. Their jobs are different.

The end panel covers an exposed end. The extension panel fills a gap. Any Ella walk-in tub that is less than 60 inches long comes with an extension panel so the tub fits a standard 60 inch tub alcove, and it takes a 52 or 55 inch tub to that 60 inch opening. It is supplied left or right as specified on your order and mounts on stainless steel shelf brackets built into the frame at that end. Some models fill their space without one, including the Front Entry, Mobile, Ultimate, Big4One, ShaK, Transfer60 and the two seat models.

If a panel does not seem to fit where you expected, check which of the two you are holding and which end your order specified. Why Doesn't the Extension Panel Attach on the Faucet Side? sorts out the usual mix-ups.

Model Notes and the Option to Skip the Panel

A few models handle the included panel a little differently.

• Front Entry. It includes two side end panels because its door is at the end of the tub. Its back still goes against a wall or a knee wall.
• ShaK and other wider models. The ShaK includes one end panel for the 36 inch side, and an additional panel can be added if the other end will be exposed.
• LayDown tubs. They come with a covered front and one side panel and need at least one wall or a framed enclosure behind them.

You can also decline the panel. If your layout needs no end panel or no extension panel, you can opt out of receiving one or the other in an effort to reduce plastic waste. A three-wall alcove is the typical case. Some customers go the other way and order a second panel anyway, so the tub is finished on both ends in case the layout changes later.

Handling the Panel on Delivery and Installation Day

All removable panels, including the front apron with its access panels, the end panel and any extension panel, must be removed before the walk-in tub is moved into the house and into the bathroom. Set them somewhere safe until the tub is leveled and water tested.

If the mounting brackets and clips on a new panel look rotated or crooked, that is how they are turned for shipping. Inspect any panel as soon as it is delivered and keep all packaging. Shipping damage, including concealed damage found after the driver leaves, must be reported within 48 hours of receipt so a claim can be filed.

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

Related Guides

• The Extension Panel: What Ships With Your Tub, Where It Installs, and When to Set It Aside
• End Panels, Extension Panels, and Aprons: Getting the Right Replacement Panel
• Can the Tub Be Freestanding? Exposed Ends, Second End Panels, and Knee Walls

Common Questions