Getting an Extension Panel When Your Alcove Is Wider Than Your Tub

If your alcove is wider than the walk-in tub you are installing, an Ella extension panel closes the open end with a finished, L-shaped acrylic panel, so there is no need for a site-built filler on the visible side. Tubs shorter than 60 inches ship with one panel in the crate, while 60-inch tubs such as the Zen60 do not, because they are built to fill a standard 60-inch alcove. If your tub did not include a panel, or your gap is wider than the panel supplied, your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can arrange one. Have your model, serial number and the measured gap ready when you call.

What the Extension Panel Does

An extension panel, also called a filler kit, is an L-shaped panel that mounts on the end of the tub and extends the finished apron to the wall. It is a finish piece, not a structural part. The tub still rests on its own frame, and your installer levels and supports the tub exactly as usual. The panel simply gives the open end a clean, factory-matched look, so the final result is fully finished and seamless once your contractor installs everything.

Which Tubs Include a Panel

The by-model guide lists what ships in each crate. As a general rule, tubs shorter than 60 inches include one panel so they can drop into a standard 60-inch alcove. For example, the Deluxe includes an 8-inch L-shaped panel that can be installed on either the left or right end. Tubs built at 60 inches, such as the Zen60, do not include a panel because they already span a standard alcove, even if a third-party listing suggested one was included. Before you assume a panel is missing, check the crate inventory checklist.

Measure the Gap Before You Call

1. Measure the alcove wall to wall where the tub will sit, allowing for tile and drywall thickness on the finished walls.
2. Subtract the actual length of your tub from the spec sheet, not the nominal size.
3. Note which end of the tub faces the gap. The panel mounts on the end away from the faucet deck, so if the gap lands on the faucet end the layout needs review. See why the panel does not attach on the faucet side.
4. Have your model and serial number ready so the correct panel ships for your tub.

When the Gap Is Wider Than One Panel

A single panel covers a gap up to its own width. In one recent case an installer measured a 6-inch gap, and the 7-inch panel supplied for that tub covered it with room to spare. When the alcove is wider than one panel, there are two proven options. In some layouts a second panel can be installed on the opposite end of the tub, adding roughly one more panel width. Ask the support team whether your model supports this, since the faucet end differs by model. For a span that is still wider, the installer uses one panel and builds a framed extension box against the wall to cover the entire opening, so the finished look matches the tub. Share the total alcove length with the team and they will confirm which approach fits your model.

How to Request a Panel

Contact where you purchased the tub, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support, and give the model, serial number and the gap measurement. The team confirms the panel size needed for your tub before it ships, so an accurate measurement saves a second call. If you are replacing a damaged panel rather than adding one, the replacement panel guide explains how to identify the right end panel, extension panel or apron.

Related Guides

• Will it fit my alcove? Extension panels, end panels, and 60 inch spaces
• Replacement Extension Panels Come With Their Mounting Arms, and Why the Panel Must Never Be Glued On

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Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.