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My Tub Has No Tile Lip. Which Flange Do I Use?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary5
  1. Likely Causes
  2. What to Check, in Order
  3. When to Open a Ticket
  4. Related Guides
  5. Common Questions

If your tub has no tile lip, that is by design. Ella walk-in tubs have a flat deck edge, and the water barrier at the wall is a glue up tile flange added at installation. The manual calls for a rustproof, waterproof strip about 5 inches tall, glued to the tub edge with 100 percent silicone so it overlaps the edge by about 2 inches, with the tile or wall panels overlapping the flange and the deck and every joint siliconed. The current Ella part that fills that role is the flexible, reversible glue up flange kit described in the glue up tile flange kit guide, so check which length your wall run needs before the walls are finished.

Likely Causes

  • The installer expected a molded flange like a standard bathtub and did not plan for the strip.
  • The manual on hand describes a generic aftermarket strip rather than the current flexible kit.
  • The walls were started before the flange went on.

What to Check, in Order

  1. Level the tub with every leg bearing on the floor and complete the water test before finishing any wall.
  2. Measure the total run of tub edge that meets a wall, back plus each end, at deck height, and match it to the kit lengths in the flange kit guide.
  3. Clean the tub edge with the alcohol tissues in the kit, then bond the flange with 100 percent silicone so it overlaps the tub edge. The strip is reversible, and which colored side faces out depends on whether the fixture already has an integral flange.
  4. Run the tile or wall panel down over the flange and onto the deck, then silicone every joint, including where the extension panel meets the tub and where the end panel meets the wall. Full detail is in tile flange, caulking and wall finishing.
  5. Existing wall tile that is sound and properly sealed can stay; your installer confirms its condition.
  6. For a shower base, the same flange approach applies, and the flexible strip can go on after the base is set. See shower base and dam installation.
  7. More install day answers are in installation common questions.

When to Open a Ticket

If you are unsure which flange length fits, or the walls are already partly finished, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model, a sketch of the alcove with wall lengths in inches and a photo of the tub edge at the wall. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 will confirm the kit and how to place it.

Common Questions

Which flange do I buy if the one in the manual is discontinued?
The current part is the flexible glue up tile flange kit, which comes in several lengths with the membrane strip, a spreading spatula, an alignment guide and cleaning tissues. It is not packed in the crate, so request it through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your model.
Do I set the tile under the feet before leveling?
No, you do not need to set the tile under the feet before leveling. The Ella walk-in tub can sit on the subfloor before tile or on the finished floor, as long as the subfloor is level and rated for the tub, water, and bather. It is important that every leveling leg bears on whatever surface it rests on to ensure proper support.
Is it too late if I forgot the flange before setting the shower base?
No, it is not too late if you forgot the glue up tile flange before setting the shower base. The flexible glue up flange can be applied during or after the shower base is installed. You will need to clean the edge of the shower base well so the 100 percent silicone bonds properly, then finish the wall over the flange.
Is the tub supposed to be caulked where the extension panel meets the tub?
Yes, the tub is supposed to be caulked where the extension panel meets the tub. Every joint around the tub must be siliconed with 100 percent silicone to ensure a waterproof seal. This includes the extension panel to tub line, the end panel to wall line, and the wall finish to deck line, so that water sheds back into the tub.
Do I need the glue up flange if my base already has a flange?
The strip is reversible for that case: one colored side faces a fixture with an integral flange, and the other faces an Ella tub, which has none. The kit guide shows the orientation, and your installer decides whether the surround needs the added strip.
What adhesive should I use for the wall tiles?
Ella's Bubbles requires 100 percent silicone for bonding the glue up tile flange and for sealing all joints around the tub. For the wall tiles themselves, you should use the product that your tile manufacturer specifies for a wet wall application. This ensures proper adhesion and waterproofing for your specific tile material.

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

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