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What Are the Shell, Frame, Door and Towel Bar of an Ella Walk-In Tub Made Of?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary9
  1. The Shell: Acrylic First, Fiberglass Underneath
  2. The Frame: Stainless Steel
  3. The Doors: Two Different Constructions
  4. The Towel Bar and Other Trim
  5. Why the Materials Matter for Care
  6. Related Guides
  7. Related Videos
  8. Common Questions
  9. Still Need Help?

An Ella walk-in tub is built on a stainless steel frame with a shell that is thermoformed from acrylic and reinforced on the underside with fiberglass. The stainless steel inward-swing door and its frame are stainless steel, outward-swing doors use a plastic composite frame with tempered glass, and the towel bar is brushed stainless steel finished to match the door. Those are the materials Ella's team confirms when customers and dealers ask, and the same answers apply across the lineup.

The Shell: Acrylic First, Fiberglass Underneath

The bathing surface is acrylic. Each shell is thermoformed from an acrylic sheet and then reinforced with fiberglass applied to the underside to give the acrylic extra support. No fiberglass is used on the bather side of the tub, so the surface you sit on and touch is acrylic throughout. Ella's team also states that a correctly installed tub does not off-gas volatile organic compounds. The full build sequence is described in how Ella tubs are built, and the acrylic shell and stainless steel frame covers what that means for daily use.

The Frame: Stainless Steel

The structural frame that carries the shell is made of stainless steel, chosen so that it does not rust in a wet environment. It is also the part your installer ties the air manifold and hydro vent line to when securing them at the highest point under the deck.

The Doors: Two Different Constructions

Ella uses two door platforms, and they are made of different materials.

  1. Inward-swing stainless steel doors. On models with the stainless steel inward-swing door, both the door and its frame are stainless steel. What is the stainless steel inward-swing door explains how it works and why it is removable for cleaning.
  2. Outward-swing U-shape doors. Models such as the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak and Big4One use an outward-swinging door made of a plastic composite frame with tempered glass, closed by a 3-latch gear and shaft mechanism. The Tub4Two uses the same outward-swing construction with a frosted tempered glass panel in a white composite frame. Ella's team describes the composite as a strong plastic with high impact resistance.

If you are not sure which platform your tub has, is my tub door inward or outward swing walks you through identifying it.

The Towel Bar and Other Trim

The towel bar is brushed stainless steel and matches the color of the door. Cleaning guidance for the glass screen, the stainless door and chrome fixtures is in cleaning the glass screen, stainless door and chrome fixtures. Shower doors, seats, grab bars and acrylic trim pieces are listed in shower accessories sizes and finishes.

Why the Materials Matter for Care

Because the surface is acrylic, use only acrylic-safe cleaners and avoid abrasive pads. Because the frame is stainless steel, it is not prone to rust, but any leak under the tub still needs to be found and fixed. And because the towel bar and inward-swing door are brushed stainless, a soft cloth keeps their finish consistent over time.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Lifetime Warranty And Service Ella's Bubbles offers a lifetime warranty on all bathtubs and installations, emphasizing excellent service.
  2. 0:14 Acrylic Bathtub Construction Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs are made from a single piece of durable acrylic, preventing chipping or cracking.
  3. 0:49 Low Maintenance Acrylic Acrylic bathtubs are very easy to maintain and require minimal service, as dull spots can be buffed out.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella's Bubbles Stainless Steel Frame The video introduces the Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub frame, which is made entirely of polished stainless steel.
  2. 0:44 Competitor Steel Frame Tubs The video shows a competitor's walk-in tub with a basic steel frame and torsion bars for door leak adjustments.
  3. 1:48 Competitor Aluminum Frame Tubs The video displays another competitor's walk-in tub with an aluminum frame, also featuring torsion bars to adjust for leaks.
  4. 2:32 Ella's Bubbles No Torsion Bars The video reveals the Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub without its panels, showing no torsion bars or adjustments for door leaks.

Common Questions

Is there fiberglass on the surface I sit on?
No. The fiberglass is applied only to the underside of the thermoformed acrylic shell to add support. The bather side of the tub is acrylic with no fiberglass exposed.
Does the acrylic tub off-gas any VOCs?
Ella's team states that a correctly installed tub does not off-gas volatile organic compounds. The shell is thermoformed acrylic reinforced from below with fiberglass, and the finished bathing surface is acrylic.
Is the towel bar aluminum or stainless steel?
The towel bar is brushed stainless steel, and its finish matches the door. Stainless steel inward-swing doors use stainless steel frames as well.
What is the outward-swing door made of?
Outward-swing U-shape doors are a plastic composite frame with tempered glass, secured by a 3-latch gear and shaft mechanism. They are not stainless steel, which is the material of the inward-swing door platform.
Will the tub frame rust over time?
The frame is stainless steel and is chosen specifically so it will not rust in a bathroom environment. Any leak under the tub should still be corrected, but the frame itself is not at risk.

Still Need Help?

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

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