Support Center / Showers, Panels & Accessories / Ella Shower Stalls Compared: One-Piece AcrylX E-Series, Three-Piece 60x33 Molded Seat, and the Legacy ESM Gel Coat Stalls
Back to Showers, Panels & Accessories

Ella Shower Stalls Compared: One-Piece AcrylX E-Series, Three-Piece 60x33 Molded Seat, and the Legacy ESM Gel Coat Stalls

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. One-Piece AcrylX Stalls
  2. Basic Versus Liberty
  3. Three-Piece 60x33 Low Threshold Shower with Molded Seat
  4. Watch: How a Three-Piece Stall Goes Together
  5. What AcrylX and Armorcore Are
  6. The Legacy ESM Gel Coat Stalls
  7. Related Guides
  8. Common Questions

The difference between a one-piece and a three-piece Ella shower stall comes down to how it reaches the bathroom. One-piece stalls are molded as a single unit with an integral base and seamless walls, which makes them a natural fit for new construction where the stall can be brought in before walls are closed. Three-piece kits ship as a base plus two wall sections that assemble from the front, which is what you want for a remodel where the stall has to pass through finished doorways. Both are made in the USA from fiberglass reinforced with the AcrylX applied acrylic finish and Armorcore reinforced walls. This article compares the current spec sheets and explains where the older ESM gel coat stalls fit.

One-Piece AcrylX Stalls

The current specification manual (July 2022) documents the 48 by 37 by 80 inch New Construction One-Piece Shower, models E-3648LWH and E-3648RWH, handed by seat. Key facts:

  • Material: fiberglass reinforced with AcrylX; Armorcore reinforced walls on all sides for installing future grab bars.
  • Overall dimensions 48 by 37 by 80 inches; threshold height 4 inches; center drain.
  • Net weight 160 pounds; shipping dimensions 53 by 42 by 84 inches; shipping weight 280 pounds.
  • Color: white only. Packages: Basic or Liberty.
  • Architectural subway tile pattern with a diamond accent row, Grip Sure floor texture, molded soap, shampoo and foot ledges, square corners at the base that accept a framed or frameless shower door or a curtain.
  • Codes: UPC, CSA B45.5, IAPMO Z124-11, Home Innovation Research Lab, Southern Building Code.
  • Warranty: Lifetime Limited Residential and 30 Year Commercial on the shower stall.

The same 2022 manual series and the product pages cover the other one-piece sizes in the same construction: 60 by 33 by 77 inches with a left or right seat (molded seat 21 1/2 wide by 18 1/2 deep by 21 inches high), 60 by 33 by 77 with a center drain and no seat, 60 by 36 by 77 with a left or right seat (seat 25 by 18 by 21 inches), 48 by 37 by 80 with a left or right seat (seat 25 1/2 by 13 3/4 by 20 inches) and 42 by 42 by 80 with a center drain. Because a one-piece stall does not disassemble, the product pages carry a clear warning: if you are remodeling, make sure the stall fits through every doorway and hallway into the bathroom before placing your order, and otherwise use the multi-piece line. The alcove prep and fastening steps are in installing an Ella one-piece AcrylX shower stall.

Ella 60 inch AcrylX shower stall with molded bench seat, grab bar and Duo framed sliding glass door
A 60 inch AcrylX stall with molded seat, Liberty grab bar and the Duo sliding door.

Basic Versus Liberty

The Basic package includes the stall with a 2 inch chrome strainer brass drain with friction seal. The Liberty package adds grab bars: on the one-piece manuals the Liberty package adds three 18 inch straight stainless steel bars, and on the three-piece 60 by 33 kit the Liberty options are Liberty 24 (three 24 inch fine-finished stainless bars with concealed flanges) or Liberty 36. Because the walls are Armorcore reinforced, bars and seats can be placed anywhere rather than only at stud locations. Flange trim molding and multi-piece window trim kits are available through the team.

Three-Piece 60x33 Low Threshold Shower with Molded Seat

The current sheet (07/22) for the Ella Liberty 24, models E-6033-3PLWH24SS (left seat) and E-6033-3PRWH24SS (right seat), prints:

  • Outside dimensions 33 wide by 60 long by 77 inches high; seat 22 wide by 18 1/2 long by 21 inches high; threshold 4 inches.
  • Panels: shower base 33 by 60 by 28 inches high; left and right side wall panels 33 wide by 30 long by 49 inches high.
  • Net weight 175 pounds; shipping dimensions 60 by 48 by 72 inches; shipping weight 325 pounds.
  • Premium applied acrylic with a 6 inch classic tile pattern and diamond accent, Armorcore reinforced walls, a pin-lock wall assembly system that allows front installation, precision-fit seams that match into the grout pattern, Grip Sure floor, and a self-supporting pre-leveled base with no mud set required.
  • Codes: IPC, UPC, ANSI Z124.2, NAHB, HUD, FHA. Warranty as printed: 30 Year Limited Lifetime Warranty on the shower panels.

A 48 by 36 3/4 by 79 1/2 inch three-piece alcove kit with a left or right seat and center drain is also listed on the product pages with the same construction and a 4 inch threshold. The framing pocket, base leveling and wall order are in installing the 60 x 33 three-piece shower with molded seat.

Ella AcrylX three-piece shower stall with built-in molded seat, tile pattern walls and low-threshold base
The three-piece AcrylX stall: base with molded seat plus two wall sections that assemble from the front.

Watch: How a Three-Piece Stall Goes Together

Step-by-Step Low-Threshold Shower Installation for Remodeling
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introduction to Low-Threshold Shower Installation This video provides visual guidance for installing a low-threshold 3-piece shower, emphasizing the importance of referring to the installation manual.
  2. 0:24 Dry Assembly and Pre-Installation Checks The installer dry assembles the modular shower to ensure correct panels, drain location, and proper alignment before moving it into the bathroom space.
  3. 1:54 Preparing the Framing Pocket and Subfloor The installer checks the framing pocket for proper sizing, square, plumb, and level, making necessary adjustments and inspecting the subfloor for integrity.
  4. 4:07 Installing the Drain Body and Base Support The installer installs the drain body, prepares the drain to meet local plumbing codes, and applies silicone adhesive for proper support and adhesion of the base.
  5. 5:53 Permanently Installing and Securing the Base The installer permanently positions and levels the shower base, securing it to all available studs and cutting the drain pipe even with the rubber gasket.
  6. 7:22 Installing the Wall Panels and Valve The installer installs the wall panels using a pin and slot system, then installs the valve, connecting the hot and cold water supply lines.
  7. 10:19 Finishing Touches and Accessories The installer caulks all seams, recommends client involvement for accessory placement, and suggests an optional flange trim molding kit for a seamless transition.

The video shows why the three-piece kit suits a remodel: the pieces are dry-assembled before demolition, the base slides into the pocket on short PVC rails and is set on silicone beads and screwed to the studs, and the two wall panels hang on the pin-and-slot system from the front, the valve wall last after a leak test. Nothing is lifted through a doorway assembled. Watch: Step-by-Step Low-Threshold Shower Installation for Remodeling with chapters and a full transcript.

What AcrylX and Armorcore Are

AcrylX is an applied acrylic finish over the fiberglass structure. The manufacturer's description says it gives a truer white, higher-gloss and less porous surface than gel coat, which is easier to clean, resists scratching, cracking and chipping, has UV properties that resist fading, and can be repaired and restored. Armorcore is the resin-reinforced backing bonded behind the acrylic. It is described as tested well beyond industry standards, holding 1,800 pounds of pressure without failing and rating 600 percent above code weight on the base while adding only one to three percent to unit weight, and it does not require foundation or bedding material for installation. In practice it is why these stalls carry a lifetime limited residential warranty and why accessories can be mounted anywhere on the walls. Cleaning rules for both surfaces are in caring for AcrylX stalls and gel coat units.

The Legacy ESM Gel Coat Stalls

Before the 2022 AcrylX edition, Ella published a September 2016 series of ESM spec manuals for one-piece gel coat fiberglass stalls in white, bone and biscuit: sizes 36 by 48 (48 by 37 by 80), 42 by 42 by 80, 48 by 36 (48 by 37 by 80), 60 by 32 and 60 by 33 (60 by 33 by 77) and 60 by 36 by 77, in Standard, Classic, Imperial and Ultimate packages, with and without shower valve kits, and a related Millennial Century Stone line. The ESM stalls carried a 3 year limited warranty (10 years on the Century Stone line) and 4 inch thresholds. The 2022 AcrylX and Armorcore specification manuals supersede the 2016 gel coat manuals, so the ESM sheets are reference material for owners of older stalls rather than current product documents. The older gel coat owner's manual (03/14 and 06/15 editions) still applies to those installed units, and the multi-piece gel coat install routine is preserved in installing multi-piece gel coat showers.

If you are planning delivery day and want to know what the 3-piece kit with its door weighs and what the base weighs on its own, see how much does the Ella shower kit or the shower base alone weigh.

For a direct answer on whether Ella stalls are ADA compliant and what that means for a home versus a commercial or inspected project, see Are Ella Shower Stalls ADA Compliant? What the Answer Means for Home and Commercial Projects.

Common Questions

What sizes do the one-piece stalls come in?
Ella's Bubbles one-piece shower stalls are available in several sizes, all with a 4-inch threshold. These include 48 by 37 by 80 inches with a left or right seat, 60 by 33 by 77 inches with a molded seat or a center drain, 60 by 36 by 77 inches with a molded seat, and 42 by 42 by 80 inches with a center drain. For example, the New Construction One-Piece Shower models E-3648LWH and E-3648RWH are 48 by 37 by 80 inches.
What is the difference between Basic and Liberty packages?
The Basic package for Ella's Bubbles shower stalls includes the stall itself with a 2-inch chrome strainer brass drain that has a friction seal. The Liberty package adds a set of three stainless steel grab bars. For one-piece stalls, the Liberty package includes three 18-inch straight stainless steel bars, while for the three-piece 60 by 33 kit, Liberty options are Liberty 24 (three 24-inch fine-finished stainless bars with concealed flanges) or Liberty 36.
How heavy is a three-piece 60x33 shower?
A three-piece 60x33 Ella shower, such as models E-6033-3PLWH24SS or E-6033-3PRWH24SS, has a net weight of 175 pounds and a shipping weight of 325 pounds. Its shipping dimensions are 60 by 48 by 72 inches. For comparison, a one-piece 48 by 37 by 80 inch stall weighs 160 pounds net and 280 pounds crated, with shipping dimensions of 53 by 42 by 84 inches.
Will a one-piece stall fit through my door?
Only if every doorway and hallway on the route is larger than the stall's smallest cross section, which is 37 inches on the 48 by 37 by 80 unit and 33 inches on the 60 by 33 by 77. Measure the route with the doorway measurement guide before ordering, and choose the three-piece kit if it will not pass.
What is AcrylX and Armorcore?
AcrylX is an applied acrylic finish over the fiberglass structure of Ella's Bubbles shower stalls, providing a truer white, higher-gloss, and less porous surface than gel coat. Armorcore is the resin-reinforced backing bonded behind the AcrylX, which is tested to hold 1,800 pounds of pressure without failing and rates 600 percent above code weight on the base. This reinforcement allows accessories to be mounted anywhere on the walls and supports the lifetime limited residential warranty.
Where do I mount the grab bars on the walls?
You can mount grab bars anywhere on the Armorcore reinforced walls of Ella's Bubbles shower stalls. The walls are designed with Armorcore reinforcement, which means bars and seats can be placed at any location, not just at stud locations. The panels also carry steel rod supports, so you should locate these before drilling and always follow the specific grab bar sheet that ships in the white envelope on top of the unit for proper installation.
Is the stall ADA compliant?
There is no ADA certification for products; the spec sheets list the plumbing and building codes each stall meets, and your architect or inspector compares the drawings with the standard that applies to your building. The team can send the spec sheet for your model.
Are the older ESM gel coat stalls still current?
No, the older Ella's Bubbles ESM gel coat stalls are no longer current products. The 2022 AcrylX and Armorcore specification manuals have superseded the 2016 gel coat manuals. If you own an ESM gel coat stall, you should keep its 2016 spec sheet and the gel coat owner's manual for reference, and contact the Ella's Bubbles team with your model number for any parts you may need.

For anything model-specific, including the exact spec sheet for the tub or shower on your order, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and the team will be glad to help.

About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.

Related guides

Did this solve your question?

If not, open a ticket and our team will pick it up from here.

Open a Support Ticket