What Specs Should I Check Before Ordering a Shower Base?

Before you order an Ella shower base, verify five things: the finished length and width of the opening, the drain location measured from the back wall and from each side wall, the threshold style you need (curb-less roll-in or a low step-in), the route the base must travel to reach the bathroom, and the condition of the subfloor it will sit on. Ella's three standard roll-in bases all measure 60 inches long and come in 30, 32 or 36 inch widths with a left or right drain, as set out in What Are the Standard Shower Base Sizes Ella's Bubbles Offers?. This page turns that information into a pre-order checklist, so the base that arrives is the base that fits.

Spec 1: The Size of the Opening

Measure the width, length and height of the existing tub or shower alcove at the finished wall surface, and write the figures down before you look at any base. The three standard bases differ only in width, so if your opening is 60 inches long and between 30 and 36 inches wide, one of them fits and the drain sits in a set position for that size, which makes it the simplest choice for your contractor. Anything shorter, longer or wider moves you to a custom base. Custom three-wall alcove bases run from 30 by 30 inches up to 44 inches wide by 80 inches long, with the threshold on the longer side, and custom corner bases run from 30 by 30 inches up to 42 by 60 inches. The program is described in Custom-Size Shower Bases: Size Ranges, Threshold Options, Drain Placement Rules, Construction, and How to Request One. Availability of custom builds has changed over time, so confirm with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 that custom builds are currently open for your size before you plan a bathroom around one.

If the opening is only a little wider than a standard base, you may not need a custom size at all. An 8 inch wide L-shaped plastic filler piece closes the gap between the base and an adjoining wall or fixture. It comes with brackets and can be trimmed down if it is too large for the space.

The practical meaning of the table is this: a standard base gives you a true roll-in floor and a drain already set for its size, while a custom base gives you freedom in length, width and drain placement in exchange for a step-in threshold and a confirmation step on availability. Decide which of those two trade-offs your bathroom needs before you compare individual sizes.

Spec 2: The Drain Location

The drain opening is molded into the floor of the base at the factory and is fixed for that model, so it cannot be relocated after the base is made. Measure the center of your existing drain from the back wall and from each side wall, then compare those measurements with the drain location on the Specification drawing for the base you are considering. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 for the drawing if you do not have it. The rules are explained in Can I Choose a Left, Right, or Center Drain on an Ella Shower?.

• On the three standard sizes you choose a left-drain or right-drain version when you order. Tell the team where the existing drain line sits in the floor and they confirm which version matches your size.
• On a custom base the drain can be left, right or center, but it must sit at least 9 inches from each wall. A drain only 7 inches from the threshold edge is not possible, even on a custom base.
• The online drain-placement tool can round measurements up to the nearest inch, so confirm your exact drain location with the team before the base is built.
• If the locations do not match and your plumber confirms the trap cannot be moved, look at a different size whose drain fits or ask about a custom base. On a concrete slab with no access from below, or with a drain in an unusual spot, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your measurements.

Do this check before the order is placed. A drain that does not line up is usually discovered only when the base is set on the floor, which is the hardest point to change course.

Spec 3: Threshold Height and the Floor Surface

Every standard base is a curb-less roll-in pan that a wheelchair can roll straight into, and the roll-in and barrier-free bases pair with a collapsible rubber dam that keeps water in while a wheelchair rolls over it. Custom bases are low step-in pans. The photo galleries on the custom base page show a 32 by 60 inch base with a 4 inch low threshold and a second version with a 2 inch low threshold, and the team has also described a 3 inch step on custom builds, so confirm the threshold height when you request your size. A short step-in threshold is still a step, and a low-threshold pan is not labeled ADA, because roll-in access requires a barrier-free threshold. If you need a wheelchair roll-in at a custom size, ask the team whether it can be built, since true roll-in thresholds need different molds.

On the slip-resistant question, the custom bases have a textured, slip-resistant floor with molded drainage channels, and the floor texture and channel layout are similar across all of them. When you confirm your size and drain position, ask the team to confirm the floor finish of the exact base you are ordering so there are no surprises on delivery day.

Spec 4: The Route in and the Floor Underneath

The base is the largest single piece of a shower, so measure every doorway it must pass through on its way to the bathroom before delivery day. Then look at what it will sit on. Ella bases install on either a concrete or a wood subfloor, and the subfloor must be sound, flat and level within 1/8 inch. The barrier-free roll-in gel coat manual calls for a framing pocket 1/4 inch larger than the shower, with the framing square, plumb and level, and its framing table gives the width, drain offset and depth for each unit. Have your contractor check the pocket against that table before ordering rather than after. On installation day the base is dry fit, the drain is set, and the base is bedded on beads of 100 percent silicone adhesive. The full sequence is in How do you fit and install an Ella shower base?. A local licensed plumber or contractor does the work, and Ella's technical support answers their questions; Ella does not send technicians.

Spec 5: What to Have Ready When You Order

Shower products are sold per item rather than as one bundle, so a complete accessible shower is put together from the base in your size and drain position, a wall system sized to the base, and accessories such as grab bars or a shower door. When you contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, have the finished opening dimensions, the drain measurements from the back and side walls, the threshold style you need, and the walls or accessories you want. Pricing is not published in this knowledge base; current pricing and availability come from your Ella dealer or a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support. Contractors who expect to buy regularly can apply for the dealer program. Where can I buy accessible shower pans and bases? explains the ordering path in full.

Related Guides

• How Close to the Wall Can the Drain Be on a Custom Shower Base, and Can It Be Centered?
• What the Ella Acrylic Shower Base Is Made Of and How It Is Installed
• How do I install and level an Ella shower base or pan?

Common Questions