To install the Ella shower column kit on a walk-in tub, mount the column base in the pre drilled hand shower hole on the tub deck, connect its 1/2 inch supply line to the faucet diverter, bracket the riser to the wall, and attach the 10 inch rain shower head. The rule that matters most is timing: the deck mounted kit must go on before the tub's final installation, because the connection is made behind the tub. It fits any walk-in tub with an Ella 2-piece or 5-piece deck mount fast fill faucet.

Before You Begin: Two Things You Must Know

• Install the deck kit before the tub's final installation. Because the column connects to the faucet plumbing behind the tub, the deck mounted shower column kit requires access to the back side of the tub. It must be installed prior to the final installation of your walk-in tub. If your tub is already installed in an alcove, talk to the team and your installer before ordering, and read about the wall mounted sliding column below.
• Faucet compatibility. The shower column kit can only be installed on walk-in tubs with an Ella 2-piece or 5-piece fast fill faucet. The kit does not include the pull out hose or hand shower; it uses the hand shower and hose from your new or existing 2-piece or 5-piece faucet set. The 2-piece versus 5-piece faucet guide explains the difference.

What the Kit Includes and How It Works

• A stainless steel column, in chrome or brushed nickel, that mounts to the tub deck and connects to the faucet diverter with the included 1/2 inch stainless braided supply line.
• A 10 inch pivoting rain shower head that swivels for a standing or seated shower.
• A telescoping upper section: measured from the tub deck the head adjusts from a minimum of 37 inches to a maximum of 64 inches. In a typical installation that puts the rain head at about 90 inches from the floor, a little over 7 feet, with roughly 14 inches of adjustment down to about 76 inches.
• An on and off diverter that selects the rain shower head or the pull out hand shower. Please note the two shower heads cannot spray at the same time; that is by design, not a defect.
• An adjustable height and angle bracket for the faucet's 5 mode hand shower.

Watch: Shower Column Kit Overview

This second overview shows the sequence end to end: hand shower out, column base into the vacant receptacle, supply line replaced, and the new 1/2 inch line onto the faucet diverter.

Installing the Column Base and Riser

1. Remove the hand shower receptacle to expose the pre drilled hole in the tub deck.
2. Remove the rubber washer, metal washer, and locking collar from the base unit. Apply a small amount of silicone, insert the base into the hole, reattach the washers and locking collar, and tighten the set screws without over torquing.
3. Set the column base height; 7 inches is recommended.
4. Check that the gasket is seated correctly, then screw the riser tube onto the base. Hand tighten, then add one quarter to one half turn with a wrench.
5. Connect the 1/2 inch shower supply line to the bottom of the base unit, tighten the same way, then attach the other end to the faucet diverter.
6. Fit the lower and upper mounting brackets. The bracket depth adjusts with an Allen wrench to suit your wall, up to 2 1/2 inches out or 1 3/8 inches in, and the rubber gasket goes into the mounting plate before attaching.
7. Make sure the column is perfectly level and vertical, then attach the mounting brackets to the shower wall.
8. Attach the rain shower head to the riser tube. Attach the adapter nut to the column, connect the flexible hand shower hose, hand tighten plus one quarter to one half turn, and place the hand shower in its holder.

Installing with the 2-Piece Faucet Set

The process is the same, with these specifics: place a bead of silicone at the base, insert the base unit into the vacant pre drilled hole, and set a height of about 7 inches from the tub deck to the middle of the diverter switch. Insert the rubber gasket, then the metal washer, screw on the metal locking collar, and tighten the set screws firmly without over torquing. Route the shower column feed line from the bottom of the column to the brass connection on the faucet, hand tighten, then snug each connection one quarter to one half turn. The brass wall mount adjusts and locks with an Allen wrench; slide the chrome collar and rubber gasket onto each mounting arm before setting the brackets, and verify the riser is exactly vertical before final mounting.

The same 2-piece installation from a second camera angle.

Choosing the Right Wall Pipe Connector

The column anchors to the wall with either a short or a long pipe connector, and for added safety the rail is screwed to the wall.

• Short connector, adjustable 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 inches: used when the column attaches directly to the wall.
• Long connector, adjustable 4 to 5 inches: used when your tub has the extension panel or filler in a three wall alcove installation. See extension panels by model if unsure.

Keeping the Seal Watertight

This clip focuses on the deck connection: the bead of silicone under the base, the rubber gasket and metal washer in the right sequence, and the locking collar snugged without over torquing. If you ever find moisture under the tub near the column, see finding the source of water under the tub.

Alternative: The Wall Mounted Sliding Shower Column

1. Choose the column location, check level, and mark the lower bracket hole. Drill, insert the anchor, tap it flush, drive the shorter screw, and slide the chrome cover over the bracket.
2. Place the column into the lower bracket. Before securing the top, place the shower head holder onto the column and slip the upper bracket over the column.
3. Mark and drill the upper hole, insert the anchor, and drive the longer screw through the hole provided in the column. Slide the chrome cover over the bracket.
4. Remove the shower head, attach the coupler, attach the extension line, hand tighten, and feed the excess line into the receptacle. The coupler and rubber washer create the waterproof seal at the receptacle.
5. Reattach the shower head and place it in the holder, which adjusts in height and pivots side to side.

Important: overextending the handheld shower without the extension line and coupler installed creates a leak hazard, so never skip those two parts. The hand shower slider bar article covers this leak elimination kit, and because it mounts to the wall it is the usual choice when the tub is already installed.

Common Questions

Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850. Can I shower in a walk-in tub? compares the hand shower, the column and the glass screens.