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What Is a Tile Flange on a Walk-In Tub?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary5
  1. How It Works
  2. Which Ella Models Have It
  3. What to Know as an Owner
  4. Related Guides
  5. Common Questions

A tile flange is a thin waterproof strip glued to the edge of a walk-in tub with 100 percent silicone so the wall tile or wall panels can overlap it and shed water back into the tub instead of behind it. Ella walk-in tubs have a flat deck edge with no built-in lip, so the flange, also called a tiling flange, a glue-up flange or a flange band, is added at installation. It is the small detail that keeps a tiled alcove dry for years.

How It Works

Any 1/8 inch or 3/16 inch rust-proof, waterproof strip will do the job: acrylic, thin stainless steel or fiberglass, about 5 inches tall, glued to the tub edge with 100 percent silicone and overlapping the tub edge by about 2 inches. Ella's own Flexible Glue-Up Tile Flange kit, listed as FlangeBand, is a 124 inch strip of 4 inch wide flexible membrane with a 1 1/4 inch adhesive strip, a spreading spatula, an alignment guide and alcohol wipes. Because the membrane is flexible, it follows the small movement between the tub and the wall that a rigid plastic lip cannot. The wall finish then overlaps the flange and the deck, and every joint is caulked with silicone. The kit walkthrough is in The Glue-Up Tile Flange Kit, and the wall sequence is in Tile Flange, Caulking and Finishing the Walls.

Flexible tile flange strip bonded to the edge of a walk-in tub and overlapped by wall tile
The flange bonds to the tub edge; the wall finish overlaps it so water runs back into the tub.

Which Ella Models Have It

No Ella walk-in tub ships with a tile flange, by design. The 124 inch kit suits most Ella tubs in a standard three-wall 60 inch alcove, and longer strips are listed for larger models such as the Big4One, TransferXXL, LayDown72, Escape and Big4Two. The one exception to note is the ShaK, which is not designed to be tiled in directly; talk with technical support before planning tile around a ShaK. Wall panels and surrounds are covered in Wall Panels and Surrounds for Walk-In Tubs.

What to Know as an Owner

The flange ships separately by parcel carrier, not in the crate with the tub, so do not report it missing on delivery day. When you request one through where you purchased the tub or the team at (800) 480-6850, include your tub model so the right length ships; support records the flange under the part code EB-FLANGE. Wall finishing should only begin after the pre-installation water test and the leveling check, because fixing a leak behind finished tile is far more disruptive. Keep the caulk line between the tub and the wall in good condition and re-caulk if it cracks or pulls away. For a ticket, have your model, whether the tub is already installed, the alcove layout and a photo of the tub edge where it meets the wall.

Common Questions

Does an Ella walk-in tub come with a tile flange?
No, an Ella walk-in tub does not come with a tile flange by design. Ella walk-in tubs have a flat deck edge, so the tiling flange, also called a glue-up flange or a flange band, is added at installation. Ella's own Flexible Glue-Up Tile Flange kit, listed as FlangeBand, ships separately by parcel carrier, not in the crate with the tub, when you request it.
Can I make my own tile flange instead of using the kit?
Yes, you can make your own tile flange instead of using Ella's kit. Any 1/8 inch or 3/16 inch rust-proof, waterproof strip, such as acrylic, thin stainless steel, or fiberglass, will do the job. The strip should be about 5 inches tall, glued to the tub edge with 100 percent silicone, and overlap the tub edge by about 2 inches.
When should the flange and tile go on?
The tile flange and wall finish should only go on after the pre-installation water test and the leveling check are complete. It is crucial that the tub is level and leak-free before the walls are finished. Fixing a leak behind finished tile is far more disruptive than addressing it beforehand.
What length of flange kit do I need?
The 124 inch Ella's Flexible Glue-Up Tile Flange kit fits most Ella tubs in a standard three-wall 60 inch alcove. Longer strips are listed for larger models such as the Big4One, TransferXXL, LayDown72, Escape, and Big4Two. When requesting a flange kit through where you purchased the tub or the support team, include your tub model so the correct length ships.
Can the ShaK be tiled in like the other tubs?
No, the ShaK walk-in tub is not designed to be tiled in directly like other Ella tubs. Before planning any tile around a ShaK, you should talk with technical support. This will ensure proper installation and avoid potential issues.

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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