Shoppers comparing walk-in tubs often ask whether the tub comes with a shower head, whether a riser or column can be added so the tub doubles as a stand-up shower, and whether a separate rain shower system can share the space in a new build. The short answers: every Ella tub with the 5-piece fast-fill faucet includes a pull-out hand shower; the Ella rain shower column is offered only for certain models and is fitted to the tub itself, so confirm it for your model before you count on it; and a wall or ceiling rain system on its own valve is independent of the walk-in tub, so a licensed plumber can add one whenever the column is not offered. The canonical guide is adding a slide bar or rain shower column after installation; this page answers the pre-purchase version of the question.
The Slide Bar: An Add-On for Any Tub
The Ella 5-piece fast-fill faucet includes a pull-out hand shower that rests in a holder on the tub deck. The slide bar is a wall-mounted accessory that gives that hand shower a second home. Its holder slides up and down the bar, so you can park the shower at standing height for a rinse or at seated height for hands-free use. Because the bar attaches to the wall and uses the hand shower and hose you already have, it can go in on the day the tub is installed or long afterward, with no change to the tub or its plumbing. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 about the slide bar for your faucet package.
The Rain Shower Column: Confirm It Is Offered for Your Model
The rain shower column is a vertical riser with an overhead shower head that mounts on the tub and is plumbed with it. That is why it raises the overall height of the installation, which matters under a sloped ceiling or beside a window; see how tall the tub is with and without the column.
The column is not available for every model. Before you plan on it, ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 whether the column is offered for the tub and faucet package on your order. Because the column is plumbed with the tub, it is far simpler to fit before the tub is set in place and enclosed. If your tub is already installed, the team can tell you whether the column can still be added to your model and what access your plumber would need.
Not Offered for Your Model? Use a Wall-Mounted Shower Head or Rain System
A frequent request from owners is a pipe or riser so the tub can also serve as a stand-up shower behind a curtain. For models where the Ella column is not offered, a wall-mounted shower head, wall riser or ceiling rain system is the answer. A rain system on its own valve is independent of the walk-in tub, so it can be planned into a new build or a remodel just like any shower, and it does not change the tub or its faucet. Your licensed plumber sources the shower head, valve and fittings and plans the plumbing before the wall is closed up. Add a shower curtain or screen so spray stays inside the tub.
Keeping Water Where It Belongs
A column that keeps dripping after the water is shut off is usually the hose and riser emptying rather than a fault; see why the shower column drips after shutoff and, for replacement column sections, the column parts guide. A leak at a supply connection under the deck is covered in supply line leaking at the nut.
Related Guides
- Installing the Shower Column Kit on Your Walk-in Tub
- What Is the Shower Column Kit on a Walk-In Tub?
- Ella Fast-Fill Faucets: 2-Piece vs 5-Piece, Finishes, and the Waterfall Option
Related Videos
Common Questions
Can I add a slide bar long after my tub is installed?
Is the rain shower column available for every Ella tub?
Can I add my own rain shower system in a new build?
Can the column be added once the tub is already in place?
Can I use the tub as a stand-up shower with a curtain?
Still Need Help?
Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.