Installing Glass Shower Screens: Four-Fold and LayDown Screens

Installing a glass shower screen on an Ella walk-in tub comes down to two families: the four-fold tempered glass screen that folds accordion style on top of the tub deck, and the fixed panel glass screen and door made for the LayDown tubs. Both keep shower spray inside the tub while preserving easy entry, and both depend on one thing above all: setting the height and level so the bottom gasket brushes the deck evenly. This guide covers the installation of each, the rules that make or break the bottom seal, and aftercare. Glass is heavy and unforgiving, so unpack carefully, confirm every part against the packing list before starting, and plan on two people for lifting.

Four-Fold Screen: What It Is

The Ella 4-Fold Shower Screen measures 44 inches long by 42 inches high, with 1/8 inch tempered clear glass panels in an ionized aluminum chrome frame, geared hinges, and a doorknob usable from either side. It installs reversible, left or right, for alcove or corner installations, and one section can be removed to create a 3-fold screen 32 inches wide. It mounts to the side wall next to the tub, so the tub needs to sit in a corner or alcove, and it goes on the wall side away from any extension panel. It can be added after the tub is installed. Before you start, check that the tub is installed and level, that there is enough deck space, that the wall is flat and non-porous, and that the supplied fixings suit your wall type. Other glass choices, including sliders and the Tidy screen, are compared in glass door and screen options beyond the 4-fold.

Watch: Installing the Four-Fold Screen

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: 4 Fold Glass Door Installation Video with chapters and a full transcript.

1. Unpack carefully and confirm all parts. Set the screen on the floor bottom side up.
2. Measure where the wall channel will be positioned, set it at perfect level, mark and drill the holes, tap in the anchors, and tighten the screws with a little lag, hand tightening the final turns without over torquing.
3. Slide the gasket into the channel at the bottom of the screen, using a little silicone lubrication if needed. Leave about 3 inches out at the wall end, cut, tie a knot in the loose end, and seat the knot into the plastic corner to anchor the gasket.
4. On the opposite bottom front side, remove the screw, pull the gasket down the channel, fit the end cap molding, and resecure with the same screw. Draw the gasket through the end cap, fit both halves of the seal end cap, glue the caps onto the molding, and trim the excess gasket.
5. Fit the chrome knobs with their rubber gaskets in place and tighten firmly without over torquing.
6. Set the screen onto the wall channel and find the proper height and level. This step is critical: if the door sits too low it will damage the gasket, and if it sits too high it will leak. The gasket should brush the tub deck lightly and evenly. The door can be moved inside the wall channel to compensate for walls that are not square.
7. Mark the drill holes through the pre drilled holes in the wall channel, drill, and resecure the door using the screw snap cap bases. Tighten securely, attach the decorative snap caps, and snap on the hinge screw caps.
8. Run a thin bead of silicone caulk between the wall channel and the wall to prevent leaks. When finished, the horizontal gasket should rest evenly on top of the tub deck, creating a clean seal.

The video above shows the finished 4-fold screen in use on a walk-in tub, folding back for entry and closing for a shower. Watch: 4-Fold Glass Shower Screen for Walk-In Tubs: Walk-In Shower & Bathtub Combo in One on its own page.

Converting the Four-Panel Door to Three Panels

If your alcove calls for the narrower 3-fold configuration, which is how a 52 inch tub with an extension panel is handled in a 60 inch alcove (see will it fit my alcove?), one inside panel is removable: Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Three Fold Shower Screen Assembly with chapters and a full transcript.

1. Lay the door carefully on a soft surface and elevate the third panel from the wall side.
2. Remove the inside screw on one side and the outside screw on the other, then use any long screw to back out the plastic retainer inserts, releasing the panel connection. Repeat on the opposite edge of the panel.
3. Remove the freed third panel completely.
4. Remove one plastic spacer, keep the other in place, bring the outside panel to the middle panel, and reconnect the hinge.
5. Replace each plastic retainer insert, secure with the same screws, tighten without over torquing, and snap the screw caps onto the top of the door.

LayDown Screen and Door Installation

The glass screen and door for the LayDown60 and LayDown72 tubs is a fixed panel plus hinged door system installed in ten steps. Take special care when drilling walls to avoid hidden pipes and electrical cables, and report any transit damage or missing parts immediately on receipt, since damage reported later will not be accepted. The tubs themselves are described in the LayDown tub guide.

1. Fix the wall jamb to the wall: drill 1/4 inch holes, insert the wall plugs, and fasten with the ST4x1 3/8 inch screws.
2. Fit the bottom aluminium frame with Gasket-C and secure it with the three countersunk screws supplied as part 12. A note on those screws: the published installation document prints the length two ways, ST4x3/4 inch in the packing list and ST4x5/8 inch in the step 2 drawing. Identify part 12 by its countersunk head and quantity of three, and use the countersunk screws supplied in your kit. If you ever need a replacement, match the length of the screw that came with your unit or check with our support team.
3. Slide the fixed panel into the wall jamb and bottom frame with Gasket-B.
4. Mount the hinges onto the fixed panel. Alignment matters: the glass shower screen needs to align with the glass door to prevent leaks. Do not center the glass with the side of the LayDown tub, and make sure the glass gasket points inward toward the tub.
5. Position the support bar for a left or right installation as your layout requires.
6. Fix the support bar to the wall with a 1/4 inch drilled hole and the ST4x1 5/8 inch screw.
7. Hang the door panel on the hinges and fit Gasket-A and Gasket-D.
8. Install the knob on the door panel.
9. Make the final fixing through the wall jamb into the fixed panel: drill 1/8 inch, drive the ST4x3/8 inch screws, and finish with the screw caps.
10. Wait 24 hours for the silicone to cure before using the shower.

Aftercare for Glass Screens

Clean the glass after use with soap and water, which is especially important in hard water areas where lime deposits can build up. Do not use gritty or abrasive cleaners, and on the four-fold enclosure avoid strong chemicals such as alcohol or petroleum based cleaners. For stubborn marks, use a soft lint free cloth with warm soapy water and rinse with clean water. More in cleaning the glass screen, stainless door and chrome. If a gasket, end cap or panel is ever damaged, see replacement parts for glass screens and doors. A swivel tray can interfere with a screen, so plan the tray and screen positions together.

Related Guides

• Shattered or Cracked Shower Glass Panel: How Replacement Works
• Which Glass Shower Screen Fits Your Ella Tub and Where It Mounts
• Hinged Glass Screen Door Out of Line With the Frame: Adjusting the Hinges
• What Is a Shower Screen on a Walk-In Tub, and Do You Need One?
• Can a Shower Screen Cover the Full Length of My Walk-In Tub?

Common Questions

Still need help? Our team is always happy to assist. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850.