Which end can the linear drain face on the reversible SMC shower base?

The Ella SMC 1 inch low-profile reversible shower base is reversible for a left or right layout, so its linear drain can sit at the left end or the right end of the alcove depending on how you set the base. The exact drain location for either layout comes from the product rough-in specifications, and the published guide asks you to dry fit before you cut the floor. The full setting sequence is in Installing the SMC Low-Profile Shower Bases: 1 Inch Reversible Linear Drain and Barrier-Free Linear-Drain Bases; this page focuses on what reversible means for the drain end and the plumbing.

What Reversible Means on This Base

Ella's SMC bases are molded from sheet molding compound, and the family has two bases that differ at the entry. The 1 inch low-profile reversible base has a 1 inch profile, a low threshold you step over, and it is the one described as reversible for a left or right layout. The barrier-free linear-drain base has no step at the entry and belongs to the roll-in family. On the reversible base, one base covers both handings: set it one way and the linear drain runs along the left end, set it the other way and the drain runs along the right end. Nothing on the base itself changes between the two layouts, which is why the printed ADA size of 35 by 59 inches is the same regardless of which end the drain faces.

This is different from most of the rest of the Ella base range. The standard acrylic bases in 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches each have a left or right drain in a set position, so the handing is a separate order choice, and a custom base can have the drain left, right or center as long as it sits at least 9 inches from each wall. The reversible SMC base gives you both ends from one part, with the choice made on the floor at installation rather than at order. What Is an SMC Shower Base and Is It Durable? explains the material and lists everything else in the SMC line.

Locating the Drain Before You Commit to a Floor Opening

Because the drain end is your choice, the floor opening has to match the layout you settle on. The guide calls for a 5 by 5 inch opening in the floor for a 2 inch PVC waste pipe, positioned according to the product rough-in specifications for the exact drain location. The practical order is:

1. Decide which end the linear drain will face, usually the end nearest the existing waste line or the end that suits the entry.
2. Read the rough-in specification for that layout and mark the drain location on the rough floor.
3. Dry fit the base in the pocket with that layout and confirm the drain body lines up with your mark before cutting the 5 by 5 inch opening.
4. Make sure the floor and stud walls are square and plumb on a level surface, then cut the opening and the 2 inch PVC waste pipe so the drain body fits snugly into the base with no gaps.

Since the base is reversible, a layout that lands the drain over an awkward joist or too far from the existing line can often be solved by turning the base to the other end rather than moving plumbing. Verify the opening against the actual base you receive, because the guide asks for that check on every SMC base.

Setting the Drain and the Base

The reversible base ships with an aluminum alloy tile flange, a strainer, a rubber gasket, a locking nut, the drain and a drain cover. Remove the strainer before setting the drain into the base; it goes back on once the base is in its final position. Apply a continuous bead of silicone sealant between the drain body and the base, then fit the rubber gasket and locking nut for a watertight seal. Set the base with its front edge in full contact with the rough floor and level it in two directions. The tile flange is cut to length after you measure the base, then the base is secured to the studs through the flange before the wallboard and tile come down over it. The flange step is the same whichever end the drain faces, since the flange runs along the walls rather than the drain.

How the Reversible SMC Base Compares with Other Ella Bases

The difference that matters is when the drain end gets decided. On the reversible SMC base it is decided on site, which is helpful in a remodel where the waste line is already in the floor. On the AcrylX and standard acrylic bases, and on a custom base, the drain position is part of the version you order and stays put. The SMC bases also carry a 1 inch or 1 1/8 inch threshold with the drain integrated along the base rather than a round strainer in the floor. The threshold heights, drain styles and crated weights for every family are lined up in Shower Base Sizes and Thresholds Compared, and the roll-in bases with a collapsible rubber dam are described in What is a roll-in shower for wheelchair users?.

Care and Warranty

Both SMC bases carry the one year warranty printed in their installation guides. Care is simple: wipe with a damp towel, use mild detergent for basic stains, and use a mildew cleaner for corners and seams. If the base you need is a size the SMC line does not cover, the standard and custom acrylic sizes run from a 30 by 30 inch minimum to 44 by 80 inches, as set out in What sizes do shower pans come in, from smallest to largest?. For the current spec sheet on the reversible base, ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.

Related Guides

• Custom-Size Shower Bases: Size Ranges, Threshold Options, Drain Placement Rules, Construction, and How to Request One
• Shower Drain Rough-In: How Far the Drain Sits From the Back Wall and Side Wall

Common Questions