Which Ella walk-in tubs work with only one side against a wall?

Any Ella walk-in tub works with only one side against a wall, as long as that wall, or a knee wall your contractor frames, is behind the long back side of the tub. No model has a factory cover for the back, while the front apron is always finished and every tub ships with one reversible end panel, with a second end panel available when both ends are open to the room. Can the Tub Be Freestanding? Exposed Ends, Second End Panels, and Knee Walls covers the placements that work; this page sorts out which wall your one wall needs to be and what each model includes to finish the sides that stay exposed.

The One Rule: The Back Goes Against the Wall

Picture the tub's four sides. The front is the apron side with the door, and it is always finished: a removable front apron, typically with two access panels, that must stay reachable for service because the pumps, heater and cords live behind it. The two short ends are covered by end panels. One reversible end panel comes with every tub and can be fitted on the left or the right end, and a second end panel can be purchased for the other end. The long back side behind the backrest is the one side no model can finish from the factory, so it sits against a wall or a knee wall.

The wall is not holding the tub up. Every Ella tub stands on its own stainless steel frame with adjustable leveling legs, so the back wall's job is to hide the unfinished shell edge, carry the plumbing, wiring and any wall-mounted grab bar, and give the tile flange and silicone a surface to finish against. That is why a contractor-built knee wall, also called a pony wall or half wall, does the job just as well as a room wall. What Is a Knee Wall Behind a Walk-In Tub? explains how it is framed.

Which Wall Is Your One Wall?

A one-wall layout comes in two versions, and they need different parts.

• The wall is behind the back of the tub. This is the classic single-back-wall placement with both ends open to the room. The included reversible end panel covers one end, and you add a second end panel for the other. No knee wall is needed because the back already meets the wall.
• The wall is at one end of the tub. Then the back is open to the room. The included end panel covers the far end, but the back needs a knee wall framed by your contractor before the room is finished. The knee wall carries the plumbing and wiring, and your contractor runs the drain under the tub if the house drain is on the far side.
• For comparison, a corner. With two walls, the included panel is all you need. A tub in the right corner takes the end panel on the left end, and the reverse for a left corner.

The door side matters in every version, because end panels are cut for a specific model and door side. Decide the door side and the exposed ends together, then count panels against that sketch. Can My Walk-In Tub Sit Freestanding With the Sides Exposed? walks through that checklist in order.

What Each Model Includes for Exposed Sides

The table says the same thing six ways: the model you choose does not decide whether a one-wall layout works, it only decides what arrives in the crate to finish the open sides. Most models ship one reversible panel and take a second. The Front Entry arrives with both sides covered because its door is on the end. The Standard's panel is fixed to the faucet side, so the room should be planned with that end exposed. The ShaK and the LayDown follow the usual rule on different shapes. The extension panel is a separate part that fills a 60 inch alcove and is often confused with the end panel; it adds no cover to an exposed end. What Is an End Panel on a Walk-In Tub? sorts the two out.

Planning the Installation Around the Open Sides

• Keep the service side clear. Every mechanism is reached through the removable side and apron panels, so nothing may be tiled or built in front of them, and no insulation goes around the equipment.
• Panels off before the move. All removable panels, including the front apron, the end panel and the extension panel, must come off before the tub is moved into the house, and the tub is lifted only by its frame.
• Level first, close later. Level the tub with every leg bearing before the knee wall or finish work is closed, and complete the pre-installation water test with the panels open.
• Two white screws. The end panel attaches with two white screws that are often taped to the back of the panel or tucked in the parts box inside the tub, and it adds no length to the tub.
• Finish the knee wall properly. Frame it to the finished height of your model, place outlets and shut-off valves within reach of the cords and supply lines, finish with a tile flange and silicone at every joint, and photograph the framing and shut-off locations before the wall closes.
• A cracked panel is freight damage. Photograph it, save all the packaging, and report it within 48 hours of delivery through ellasbubbles.com/support or by calling (800) 480-6850, and let where you purchased know as well.

What to Have Ready When You Ask

A second end panel can be included on your original order or requested later through your Ella dealer, where you purchased the tub, or the team at (800) 480-6850. Because panels are cut for a specific model and door side, the request needs your model, your serial number and which side the door is on, plus a sketch or photo of the room showing which sides will be open. If your layout needs no extra end panel or no extension panel, you can opt out of receiving one or the other to reduce plastic waste. The video on this page shows the reversible end panel being placed on either end, the extension panel for shorter tubs, and the removable front apron with its access panels. How Do I Install a Second End Panel on a Freestanding Ella Tub? covers the install itself once the panel arrives.

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Understanding Extension and End Panels with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Can an Ella End Panel or Extension Panel Be Trimmed to Fit?

Common Questions