How is the gap filled if the tub is narrower than my alcove?

How the gap is filled depends on which way the tub is narrower than the opening. If the tub is shorter along the alcove, the leftover length is closed with the trimmable extension panel that ships with most Ella tubs shorter than 60 inches, as How is the gap filled when the tub is shorter than my alcove? explains. If the tub is narrower from the back wall to the front edge, there is no factory filler for that direction. The extension panel works along the length only, so the front to back figure is measured separately, compared with the spec sheet and raised with the team before you order, and your licensed installer finishes any remaining space as part of the bathroom work.

Two Directions a Tub Can Be Narrower

Owners use the word narrower for both directions, and the answer is different for each, so start by sorting out which one you mean. Measure from the finished walls and the floor, never from the rim of the old tub, because the tub you are removing may itself be smaller than the opening it sits in.

• Length is the distance between the finished walls at the two ends of the alcove. A standard tub alcove is commonly 60 inches long, and this is the figure most Ella tubs are shorter than.
• Width is the distance from the back wall to the front edge of the alcove. Ella tubs are offered in widths from 26 inches to 38 inches, so a tub that is narrower front to back than the old one is entirely possible, and this is the direction with no filler panel.
• Height matters under a window. Measure from the floor to the bottom of the sill and compare it with the tub's height.

Compare each figure with the actual size on the spec sheet, not the name on the brochure. The Ella Petite is marketed as a 28 inch tub but its actual size is 27.5 inches wide by 52 inches long by 35 inches tall, and the Ella Elite is 30 inches wide by 52 inches long by 35 inches tall. How big is a standard bathtub, and how do you measure yours? walks through the measuring step by step, including the doorways the crated tub must pass through.

Along the Length: The Extension Panel

Most Ella tubs shorter than 60 inches ship with an extension panel, a filler made to match the apron that rests on adjustable stainless steel shelf brackets built into the tub frame. It closes the space between a 52 or 55 inch tub and a standard 60 inch three wall opening and is designed to be trimmed on site. Your installer sets the tub against the wall and levels it first, measures the gap at the top and at the bottom because walls are rarely plumb, trims the panel to fit and seals the seams with silicone. The panel goes on whichever end the gap falls on, left or right as specified on your order, and the finished panel doubles as a shelf for towels, shampoo and soap within reach of the seat. On the Ella Standard, a 30 by 52 inch tub built for a 60 inch alcove, that panel is 7 inches and pairs with an end panel on the faucet side. The video on this page shows the brackets and the panel placed on either end of the tub.

Not every model has one. The Ultimate, the Transfer60 and the two seat models fill a 60 inch opening on their own, and the Front Entry, Mobile, Big4One and Shak do not include an extension panel, so with those models the installer frames and finishes the remaining space in the alcove instead.

How Common Models Sit in a 60 Inch Alcove

What the table means for your bathroom: along the length, every 52 inch tub behaves the same way in a 60 inch alcove, and the extension panel takes care of the difference. The width column is where the models part ways and where no panel helps. A Petite leaves more open floor in front of the tub than a Monaco in the same alcove, and if your opening is narrower front to back than the old tub space, the width figure, not the length, is the one to settle with the team before you order.

Across the Width: What Happens Front to Back

The extension panel runs along the length of the opening, so it does nothing for a difference between the back wall and the front edge. Ella tubs are built for a standard three wall alcove and can also stand free against one or two walls, so the front apron of the tub becomes the finished front of the installation wherever it lands. When the tub is narrower front to back than the old tub space, the installer frames and finishes the remaining space as part of the bathroom work, and it is worth raising the difference with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before you order so the plan is settled before the crate arrives.

Two other factory panels take care of the edges of that finished front:

• The end panel covers the exposed end of the tub where it stands free in the room. It is reversible, one is included with every tub, and when the opening is narrower its wall side edge is trimmed so it fits the actual space.
• The toe kick panel covers the space between the bottom of the front apron and the floor. It is two inches wide, usually ships installed, and is trimmed along its bottom edge if the tub was set lower than standard height. Gap Between the Front Apron and the Floor: The Two Inch Toe Kick Panel and When to Trim It explains when and how to trim it.

Before You Order

• Send your model and your alcove measurements, length, width and height, and the team can confirm exactly which panels come with your tub.
• Decide the panel side together with the door side and the drain side. On every Ella walk-in tub the door and the drains are on opposite sides, so a right side door puts the drains on the left and a left side door puts them on the right, and the extension panel side is recorded on your order paperwork at the same time. On a Capri or Elite, shelf brackets can be fitted to both ends, but only when that is requested before the tub is built.
• If your opening is close to 60 inches and you are weighing a 32 inch wide tub, What size is the Monaco walk-in tub and will it fit a 60 inch alcove? compares the Monaco with the 30 inch tubs it is often measured against.
• For the full list of standard footprints, including the longer 60 inch and 72 inch models and the shower bases, see Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit.

Watch: Ellas Bubbles: Extension Panels or "Filler Kits" For Alcove Installation with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• 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
• Extension panels and filler kits: fitting your walk-in tub into a 60 inch alcove

Common Questions