What is a roll-in shower and who is it designed for?

A roll-in shower is a barrier-free shower built on a curb-less base, so there is no threshold to step or roll over and a wheelchair can roll straight into the stall. Ella's Bubbles makes wheelchair accessible roll-in shower bases in three standard sizes, 30 x 60, 32 x 60 and 36 x 60 inches, with the drain position chosen when you order, as described in Wheelchair Accessible Shower Base Sizes, Drain Positions, and What Is Sold Separately. It is designed for anyone who bathes from a wheelchair or walker, and for projects that must meet an accessibility standard.

What Makes a Shower a Roll-In Shower

The defining feature is the floor. A roll-in base is a curb-less pan, so the entry has no lip to lift a wheel or a foot over. Ella also offers a three-inch step-in threshold for customers who prefer a slightly raised entry, and the Accessible Caregiver Shower Base has a low 3/4-inch threshold built for home care. Neither of those is a roll-in shower in the strict sense. ADA standards generally limit the threshold in a roll-in shower compartment to a maximum of 1/2 inch, which is why the barrier-free line is the one to look at when an architect, facility or inspector is applying an accessibility code.

Because there is no curb, a roll-in shower needs another way to keep water inside. Ella roll-in bases come standard with a collapsible rubber dam, a self-adhesive rubber strip that runs across the open entry. It flattens under the wheels of a wheelchair or walker and springs back once they pass, giving the stall the water control of a curb without the curb. The video on this page shows the dam being measured, cut, pressed into place and siliconed, and then shows how well it holds water in the stall. The installation rules are in What Is a Collapsible Rubber Dam on a Roll-In Shower?.

Who a Roll-In Shower Is for

• Wheelchair users. The stall is entered without lifting over a curb, and the dam is made for wheels to roll over while entering and exiting.
• Walker users. The dam flattens under a walker just as it does under a wheelchair, and the flush entry removes the lip a walker or foot can catch on.
• Caregiver-assisted bathing. The open entry leaves room to help, and grab bars and a shower door can be added to the base.
• Commercial and public projects. Where a facility must meet the roll-in requirement, Ella's barrier-free bases are designed for curbless entry and custom sizes can be made. Confirm the standard that applies with your local building department, since state and local codes decide what passes inspection; see Is a 3/4-Inch Shower Base Threshold ADA Compliant for a Commercial Building?.

If nobody in the home uses wheels and a small step is comfortable, the three-inch step-in threshold or a low-threshold acrylic base may suit the bathroom just as well.

How an Ella Roll-In Shower Is Put Together

Shower products are sold per item rather than as one bundle, so a complete roll-in shower is assembled from the pieces you need: the roll-in base in your size and drain position, a wall system sized to the base, and accessories such as grab bars or a shower door. Wall choices include the plain white acrylic three-piece panel kit, a CNC engraved pattern in acrylic and a marble-look three-piece panel kit. When a standard size will not fit, a base can be made to your dimensions, and the wall panels of the multi-piece gel coat roll-in showers can be cut on site to route supply lines or clear an existing valve, as explained in Cutting a Roll-In Shower Back Wall Panel to Route Supply Lines or Clear a Valve. Measure the finished opening rather than the framing, note where your existing drain line sits in the floor, and your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm which base and drain position match.

Watch: The Ella Shower Dam, Keep Water In, Roll In With Ease | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Are Ella Shower Stalls ADA Compliant? What the Answer Means for Home and Commercial Projects
• Shower Base Sizes and Thresholds Compared: AcrylX Barrier-Free, SMC Linear-Drain, Molded-Seat and Cultured Marble Bases
• Custom-Size Shower Bases: Size Ranges, Threshold Options, Drain Placement Rules, Construction, and How to Request One

Common Questions