Should an Ella Walk-In Tub Sit on a Mortar Bed or Shims?
Neither is the method Ella describes for its walk-in tubs. An Ella walk-in tub stands on its own adjustable leveling legs on a level subfloor, and the installer adjusts each leg until every foot sits securely on the floor. Mortar beds and wedge shims belong to the Ella shower line, where the rule changes by product, as laid out in Does an Ella Shower Base Need a Mortar Bed to Keep Its Warranty?.
How an Ella Walk-In Tub Is Supported
The tub does not rest on its shell. It is carried by a frame with adjustable legs, and many Ella walk-in tubs have as many as eight leveling legs to evenly disperse weight. The leveling legs video on this page shows the check an installer makes. Look at each foot to see that it is securely on the ground, adjust each leg as necessary, and check levels on all sides of the tub. All feet should sit securely on the floor.
Ella calls these legs critical to the proper functioning of the tub, and the reason is the door. If a foot is not planted, the door will not seal correctly and could leak. Feet that are all down and a tub that is level on every side assure proper door alignment and proper closure.
The floor under the legs matters too. Ella's self installation guidance says the subfloor must be level and able to support the tub, the water and the bather. The legs are then adjusted until every leg touches the floor with equal weight. On the Standard and Zen platform the front legs are also screwed into the subfloor. The legs do the work that a mortar bed or a stack of shims does under other fixtures, and they stay adjustable.
Mortar, Shims or Legs Across the Ella Line
| Ella product | What it sits on | How it is leveled | What it means for the job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-in tub | Level subfloor able to support the tub, the water and the bather | Adjustable leveling legs, as many as eight on many models | Every foot must sit securely on the floor or the door will not seal correctly and could leak |
| Acrylic shower base, foam reinforced | Flat subfloor or concrete, never a mud bed | Self-leveling compound for dips | Order the exact size and drain position, because the base cannot be trimmed on site |
| Low-threshold one-piece and three-piece stalls | Level subfloor | Site-cut wedge shims about 6 inches long with a 1 1/2 inch thick end | Shims are not included, so cut several before the unit goes in |
| One-piece AcrylX stall, model E-3648 | Level floor over a 6 inch opening for the 2 inch drain | Blocks or legs under the unit stay in place | No foundation material is required |
| Barrier-free roll-in shower | Mortar bed per its instruction sheet | Mortar bed | The one Ella shower where mortar is part of the install |
The only Ella product set in mortar is the barrier-free roll-in shower. Wedge shims are for the low-threshold stalls. A walk-in tub uses neither, because its frame already carries adjustable legs. If your installer is used to bedding standard bathtubs, share this table and the installation manual for your model before the tub goes in. The leveling then happens at the legs, where Ella intends it.
Why Level Legs Protect the Door Seal
A walk-in tub holds water against a door, so a small twist in the frame shows up at the seal. That is why the video ties leg contact directly to door alignment. It is also why the installation checklist on Ella's warranty activation form asks the installer to confirm the tub is level with every leg touching, and to run a 20 minute fill test of the door seal.
Ella's guidance also lists a tub that is not level among the installation choices that affect coverage. The Lifetime Limited Warranty covers parts only, never labor, so getting the legs right on day one saves a return visit from your contractor. If a door that once sealed well begins to weep, checking that each foot is still securely on the floor is a sensible first step for your installer.
What Your Installer Does at the Floor
- Confirm the subfloor is level and able to support the tub, the water and the bather.
- Remove the front apron, access panels and end panel before moving the tub, and lift only by the frame. The air jets on the bottom break off if the tub is dragged or set on them.
- Set the tub in position and adjust each leg until every leg touches the floor with equal weight.
- Check levels on all sides of the tub, then recheck that all feet sit securely on the floor.
- On the Standard and Zen platform, screw the front legs into the subfloor.
- Fill the tub and test the door seal before the walls and trim close everything in.
Your installer should also know that there is only about half an inch of clearance under the tub for the drain line to fall toward the house drain. On a slab, a shallow trough in the concrete is worth considering. Ella does not send technicians, so the leveling is done by your local licensed plumber or contractor. Ella's technical support answers their questions at (800) 480-6850.
Where Mortar and Shims Do Apply
If the same project includes an Ella shower, the rules change by product. The low-threshold one-piece and three-piece stalls are leveled on wedges you cut yourself, and Shower Stall Shims Are Not Included: What Size to Make and How to Level the Base gives the wedge size. That base has a sloped floor and a molded shim at the rear, which is why an uneven subfloor makes it rock. Is the Ella Shower Base Solid Underneath, and Why Does It Rock? explains the cause and the fix. The full order of work for a stall, from dry fit to fastening to the studs, is in How do I install a one-piece Ella shower stall?.
The foam-reinforced acrylic shower base goes the other way. Ella's instructions say to set it directly on a flat subfloor or concrete and to correct dips with self-leveling compound, not mortar. Only the barrier-free roll-in shower, which ships with a collapsible rubber dam, is set in a mortar bed.
Watch: Ella's Bubbles-Leveling legs are critical to a proper functioning tub. with chapters and a full transcript.
Related Guides
- Leveling your walk-in tub: why every leg must touch the floor before anything else
- Installing the Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Family, Part 1: Delivery, Moving, Water Test and Leveling (Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, Ultimate)
- Installing the U-Shape Outward-Swing Family, Part 1: Delivery, Door Clearance, Water Test and Leveling (Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak, Big4One)
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Common Questions
How many leveling legs does an Ella walk-in tub have?
What happens if one leveling leg is not touching the floor?
Are the legs of an Ella walk-in tub fastened to the floor?
Which Ella products are actually set in a mortar bed?
Does the floor need preparation before a walk-in tub is set?
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.
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