Lowering a walk-in tub for a smaller step-in is possible on most Ella models, but it is a custom installation with a trade-off. Ella walk-in tubs leave the factory with the frame and threshold height preset so the drain piping passes under the tub and above the floor, which keeps the installation simple and keeps every part of the tub intact. The tub can be lowered by putting the drain below the subfloor and, on most models, cutting the bottom of the apron or end panel to clear the floor. The warranty does not cover the parts that are cut or altered. This article explains the default height, what a recessed installation involves, the 3 inch threshold models, and where the limits are.

The Default Frame Height

The adjustable leveling legs set the tub at a height that lets the 2 inch drain piping run beneath the tub, above the floor, to tap into your existing house drain. There is approximately 3 inches of clearance under the tub for that piping. This is why an Ella tub can go onto a concrete slab or an upper floor without opening the floor, and it is the installation the warranty and the manuals assume. Our article on slabs, condos, and upper floors covers those settings, and drain configurations and the house drain shows the routing options at the default height.

Recessing the Tub Below the Default Height

The leveling legs allow the tub to be lowered, but as the tub comes down, the apron, the end panel, and the drain assembly will hit the floor. To go lower, the installer cuts subfloor access for the drain so the piping drops below the subfloor, and cuts the bottom of the apron and, for corner installations, the end panel. The manuals advise using masking tape and appropriate tools to avoid damaging the acrylic. When the drain is installed below the subfloor, thresholds can be as low as 3.5 inches.

Warranty effect: this custom installation voids warranty coverage on the damaged or altered parts. The rest of the tub remains covered, but a cut apron or end panel is on you from that point forward. Please weigh the lower step-in against that trade-off with your installer before cutting anything, and never cut the shell or frame. The full list of installation choices that affect coverage is in installation choices that affect your warranty.

The S-Class 3 Inch Threshold Models

The S-Class series was offered with either a 3 inch low threshold or a 6 inch standard threshold, and the video explains the difference. On the 3 inch threshold tub, the frame is lowered to the floor and the jets are raised off the floor to accommodate the low step-in; on the 6 inch threshold tub, the frame is raised to fit the drain beneath. Because the 3 inch frame sits on the floor, the 3 inch height requires subfloor access to the drains, so it is not a slab-friendly configuration without cutting the floor. Adjustable leveling legs remain crucial for proper door alignment on both versions. If you have an S-Class unit, contact support with your serial number before planning any change to its height, and see our S-Class legacy tubs article for parts and support on that series.

Models That May Not Be Lowered

On the Petite, the end panel is a fixed height, so lowering the tub may not be possible on that model; please check with our team before planning on it. Tubs with jets on the floor also lose some clearance when lowered, which is why the low-threshold designs raise the jets instead. If a lower step-in is the goal, compare thresholds by model first; our step-in threshold heights by model article lists them, and for some bathers a model with a lower factory threshold or the wide L-shape door of the Transfer family can be a better answer than a recessed installation. A low-threshold shower is another option worth comparing; see walk-in tub versus low-threshold shower.

Planning Checklist for a Recessed Installation

1. Confirm the house drain can be reached below the subfloor and that opening the floor is permitted in your building.
2. Have the installer measure how far the tub must drop and exactly which panels need trimming, and mark cuts with masking tape.
3. Level the tub with every leg touching and supporting equal weight at the new height, since misleveling is the number one cause of door leaks.
4. Complete the pre-installation water test before the floor and walls are closed.
5. Keep the trimmed panels removable so service access stays intact.

Common Questions

Have a question that depends on your exact model or configuration? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and our technical support team will be glad to help you and your installer.