Can You Tile Over an Ella Acrylic Shower Base?

No. The Ella acrylic shower base is a finished surface and is not made for tiling over. The base is the walking surface as shipped, with its slope, threshold and drain molded in, and tile, thinset or a waterproofing membrane should not be applied on top of it. If you want a tiled look in the room, plan it for the walls above the base, and talk with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before you order so the base you receive is the finished floor you want.

Why the Base Is Not Tiled

Tile needs a rigid, absorbent substrate that mortar can bond to. Acrylic is a smooth finished surface that does not accept thinset, so tile laid over it would not bond reliably and could trap water underneath with no path to the drain. Tiling over the pan would also bury the molded slope and threshold that the base relies on to move water to the drain. The article on how the acrylic base is built and installed explains how the shell is supported from underneath, which is the correct way to make the base feel solid, rather than adding a layer on top.

Where a Tiled Finish Belongs

The base meets the walls along its edges, and whatever wall finish you choose comes down over that edge so water runs onto the pan rather than behind it. This is the same principle as the tile flange on a walk-in tub, described in the article on what a tile flange is. If you are considering tiled walls with an Ella base instead of Ella wall panels, confirm the wall detail with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 and with your tile installer before work begins, so the joint between tile and base is sealed correctly. The article on how shower wall edges are finished describes the edge detail on Ella's own panels.

If the Base Does Not Match Your Design

Choose a different base rather than covering one. Ella bases come in several sizes and threshold styles, compared in the article on shower base sizes and thresholds. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can help you pick the base whose size and threshold suit the room, so the finished surface is the one you want from the start.

Related Guides

• Installing Ella Shower Bases, the Flexible Shower Dam, and Shower Walls
• Installing the SMC Low-Profile Shower Bases: 1 Inch Reversible Linear Drain and Barrier-Free Linear-Drain Bases
• Custom-Size Shower Bases: Size Ranges, Threshold Options, Drain Placement Rules, Construction, and How to Request One

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.