What Plumbing and Electrical Rough-In Does a Walk-In Tub Need in New Construction?

For a walk-in tub in new construction, rough in a 2 inch gravity drain on the side of the tub opposite the door, run 3/4 inch supply lines with easily accessible shut off valves near the tub, and have a licensed electrician install a dedicated GFCI protected circuit, with the outlets planned on the seat side, where all of the tub's electrical connections come out underneath the seat. The two decisions to settle before framing are the door side and the seat width, because both fix where everything else lands. Where Is the Drain on My Walk-In Tub So I Can Rough In the Plumbing? explains the drain end in detail, and this page lays out the full rough-in plus the options for enclosing the tub for a shower.

Settle the Model, Door Side and Seat Width Before Framing

In new construction the main job is to leave the correct rough-in space and to settle the door side and seat width early so the framing matches the tub that arrives. The door side decides the drain end: a right-side door tub drains on the left, and a left-side door tub drains on the right, as you face the tub. Two-seat models drain in the center. Once you know the model and door side, ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 for the spec sheet and the electrical details for that exact model, and the team can give your builder approximate distances from the drain to the front, the back and each side of the tub.

Plumbing Rough-In: The Drain and the Trap

On every model the gravity drain outlet is 2 inches, and the drain-location article explains connecting it to 1.5 inch house plumbing. Ella does not publish a single fixed rough-in point for the drain, because the exact outlet position can vary slightly from tub to tub. The recommended sequence for a new floor or slab is:

1. Confirm the door side on your order, which fixes the drain end.
2. Request the spec sheet and the approximate drain distances for your model.
3. Rough in the trap with a slight allowance in both directions rather than a rigid stub, so the drain line is prebuilt with some flexibility.
4. Set the tub level in its final spot, measure the actual outlet, and make the final trap connection.
5. Have your plumber confirm the house drain is sized and vented correctly.

This is the opposite of an Ella shower base, where the drain position is molded into the base and fixed per model, so a shower rough-in is set to a drawing while a tub rough-in is finished after the tub is on site. If you are pouring a slab or cannot open the floor later, get the approximate drain measurements before you pour and leave room to adjust.

Plumbing Rough-In: Supply Lines and the Faucet

Ella recommends 3/4 inch supply lines with easily accessible shut off valves near the tub. Plan the valve location so it can be reached after the tub is set and the walls are finished. Ella deck-mounted 2-piece and 5-piece faucet sets include a diverter, which matters if you want a shower column later, as described below. Your licensed plumber makes the supply and faucet hookups once the tub is in place.

Electrical Rough-In

The tub must be on a dedicated GFCI protected circuit installed by a licensed electrician. Ella's electrical video spells out the rules your contractor follows: dedicated GFCI protected outlets must be used, the tub cannot share a circuit with any other appliance, and the breaker box must also use GFCI protected breakers. The appropriate amperage depends on the number and type of components in your tub, and the more pumps and accessories the tub has, the more dedicated lines it needs, so get the electrical requirements for your exact model and jetting package from the team and give them to the electrician before the walls close. Ella labels the electrical lines at the production facility for easy identification, and all components come with ground wires.

Two layout points shape the framing:

• All electrical connections come out on the seat side of the tub, underneath the seat. Plan the dedicated outlets there and leave panel space for them.
• Build in an access panel for future service, so the pumps, control box and connections can be reached after the room is finished. Ella does not send technicians, so a local licensed plumber or electrician will need that access later.

Enclosing a Walk-In Tub for a Wall Shower

Yes, a walk-in tub can be enclosed. Ella offers wall surrounds for walk-in tubs, including an acrylic top portion so the area above the tub deck looks finished and water tight. Shower Bases and Wall Panels describes the surrounds alongside Ella's shower products. To keep water off the floor, a tempered glass screen locks into place at the tub, and two four-fold screens can close a tub that is open on two sides.

If you would rather have overhead water without a wall head, the Shower Column Kit connects to the diverter on an Ella brand 2-piece or 5-piece deck mounted faucet and replaces the need for a wall-mounted showerhead, so the shower runs off the tub's own faucet with no extra valve in the wall. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 which surround, screen and column options fit your model. Your installer fits the surround and screen, and a local licensed plumber fits the column.

If your plans also include a separate shower in the new bathroom, note that the one-piece Ella shower stall is intended mostly for new construction because it needs at least 33 inches of clear opening at every doorway and hallway, as explained in What Is a Three-Piece Shower and How Is It Installed?. Set it before the framing and doors are finished.

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Proper Electrical Installation For Your Walk-In Tub with chapters and a full transcript.

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