What is a roll-in shower and who should get one?

A roll-in shower is a shower built on a curb-less base, so a wheelchair or shower chair rolls straight in with no lip to step or roll over. Ella's wheelchair accessible roll-in base comes in three standard sizes with the drain position specified when you order, and it is the right choice when the person bathing stays seated in a wheelchair or shower chair. Should I choose a walk-in tub or a roll-in shower? weighs it against a walk-in tub.

What Makes a Shower a Roll-In Shower

• A curb-less pan. All of Ella's standard roll-in bases are ADA curb-less pans, so there is no threshold to step or roll over.
• The lowest entry Ella makes. AcrylX barrier-free bases have a beveled roll-in entry of 3/4 inch to 1 1/8 inch depending on size, and SMC bases are 1 inch or 1 1/8 inch. By comparison, one-piece and three-piece shower stalls have a 4 inch threshold, and a 3 inch step-in base is offered for anyone who prefers a slightly raised edge.
• A collapsible shower dam. Roll-in and barrier-free bases ship with a self-adhesive collapsible rubber dam that keeps water in the stall. The video below shows the dam being measured, set with silicone, and then compressing under the wheels and springing back to hold the water in.
• A finished acrylic surface. Ella shower pans are finished acrylic, so they need no tile and are ready to use once installed.

Sizes and Drain Positions

The three standard bases share a 60 inch length and come 30, 32 or 36 inches wide. Each is available with a left or right drain, and the 32 by 60 inch barrier-free base is offered in left and right configurations and is ready to ship. Tell the team where your existing drain line sits in the floor and it confirms which drain position matches your size. Full details are in Wheelchair Accessible Shower Base Sizes, Drain Positions, and What Is Sold Separately. When a standard size will not fit, Ella makes custom rectangular bases up to 44 inches wide by 80 inches long with the drain placed left, right or center, at least 9 inches from each wall, as explained in Who Makes Custom Shower Pans and Bases for Accessible Showers?.

Who Should Get a Roll-In Shower

Choose a roll-in shower when the person bathing stays in a wheelchair or shower chair and needs to roll straight in with nothing to cross. Caregiver options include a weighted anti-bacterial nylon curtain, a stainless curtain rod and a slide bar with hand shower. A seat is optional: folding benches and seats rated from 300 to 600 pounds, or a 36 by 60 base with a molded seat. Choose a walk-in tub instead when you want to sit and soak, add therapies, and still shower from the seat with the hand shower.

Putting a Complete Roll-In Shower Together

Shower products are sold per item rather than as a single bundle. A complete roll-in shower is the base in your size and drain position, a wall system sized to the base, and accessories such as grab bars or a shower door. Wall choices include a plain white acrylic three-piece panel kit, a CNC engraved pattern in acrylic and a marble-look three-piece panel kit, and Ella's wall panels are 98 inches high. Your contractor sets the base, connects the drain and finishes the walls around it. The full range of bases, walls and the 8 inch L-shaped filler piece is listed in Shower Bases, Walls, and Filler Pieces. Bases and walls are available through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.

Watch: The Ella Shower Dam, Keep Water In, Roll In With Ease | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Installing Ella Shower Bases, the Flexible Shower Dam, and Shower Walls
• Shower Base Sizes and Thresholds Compared: AcrylX Barrier-Free, SMC Linear-Drain, Molded-Seat and Cultured Marble Bases
• Installing Shower Seats, Folding Benches, the Fold-Up Chair, Teak Seat, Grab Bar Shelf and the Caregiver Curtain Rod

Common Questions