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Does a Walk-In Tub Come With a Shower Head? Riser, Column and Rain-System Options for a Standing Shower

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. The Slide Bar: An Add-On for Any Tub
  2. The Rain Shower Column: Confirm It Is Offered for Your Model
  3. Not Offered for Your Model? Use a Wall-Mounted Shower Head or Rain System
  4. Keeping Water Where It Belongs
  5. Related Guides
  6. Related Videos
  7. Common Questions
  8. Still Need Help?

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.

Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Installing the Shower Column Base The technician inserts the shower column base into the pre-drilled hole and secures it with washers and a locking collar.
  2. 0:37 Attaching the Riser Tube The technician screws the riser tube onto the shower base unit, ensuring the gasket is correctly placed.
  3. 0:50 Connecting the Shower Supply Line The technician connects the shower supply line to the bottom of the base unit and then to the diverter.
  4. 1:13 Adjusting the Riser Arm Bracket The technician adjusts the riser arm bracket to accommodate various wall configurations and places the rubber gasket.
  5. 2:04 Mounting the Shower Column The technician attaches the mounting brackets to the shower wall, ensuring the unit is perfectly level.
  6. 2:22 Attaching Rain and Hand Showers The technician attaches the rain shower to the riser tube and the hand shower to the unit with a flexible hose.
Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Install Shower Column Base The technician removes the hand shower and installs the shower column base unit into the pre-drilled hole.
  2. 0:40 Connect Shower Column Feed Line The technician connects the shower column feed line to the bottom of the shower column and the faucet.
  3. 1:14 Install Riser Tube And Wall Mount The technician installs the riser tube and secures the brass wall mount with a chrome collar and gasket.
  4. 1:33 Attach Upper Mounting Bracket The technician attaches the upper mounting bracket, ensuring the shower riser is vertical, and inserts the column's mounting arms.
  5. 1:54 Connect Hand Shower Hose The technician attaches the adapter nut to the shower column and connects the hand shower hose to the adapter nut.
Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introducing the Shower Column Kit This chapter introduces the Ella's Bubbles shower column kit, an elegant and easy way to add a shower to your walk-in tub.
  2. 0:20 Installing the Shower Column Kit The video demonstrates how to easily install the shower column kit by replacing the existing hand shower and connecting the new supply line.
  3. 0:43 Hand Shower Features and Use This section highlights the height-adjustable, multi-function hand shower that tilts and swivels, and how to engage its five settings.
  4. 1:10 Overhead Rain Shower Experience The video shows how to engage the diverter for the large overhead rain shower, offering a luxurious bathing experience.
  5. 1:22 Adjusting Shower Head Height This chapter explains the 14 inches of available height adjustment for the shower head, allowing for comfortable standing or seated showers.

Common Questions

Can I add a slide bar long after my tub is installed?
Yes. The slide bar mounts to the wall and uses the hand shower and hose you already have, so it can be added at any time. Nothing on the tub itself changes.
Is the rain shower column available for every Ella tub?
No. The column is offered only for certain models, so confirm with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before you count on it. For models without a column option, a wall-mounted shower head sourced separately and fitted by a plumber does the same job.
Can I add my own rain shower system in a new build?
Yes. A wall or ceiling rain system on its own valve is independent of the walk-in tub and can be planned like any shower. Your plumber sources and installs the head, valve and fittings.
Can the column be added once the tub is already in place?
That depends on your model and on access to the tub's plumbing. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your model name. Where it cannot be added, a wall-mounted head fitted by your plumber is the practical option.
Can I use the tub as a stand-up shower with a curtain?
Yes, with a shower head above the tub. The Ella column provides that on the models where it is offered, and a wall-mounted shower head or riser fitted by your plumber does it on the others. A shower curtain or screen keeps spray inside the tub.

Still Need Help?

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

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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