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What Is a Shower Screen on a Walk-In Tub, and Do You Need One?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. Do You Need One
  2. How the Screen Mounts and Why Placement Matters
  3. 4-Fold to 3-Fold Conversion
  4. Planning Around the Swivel Tray and Replacement Parts
  5. Related Guides
  6. Related Videos
  7. Common Questions

A shower screen on an Ella walk-in tub is a set of hinged glass panels that mounts on the tub deck and folds open across the tub, so spray from the jets or the hand shower lands back in the bathing well instead of on the floor. It is an accessory rather than part of the tub, and the standard version is the 4-fold glass screen, which can be converted to a 3-fold screen when the tub sits in an alcove with an extension panel. Where the screen sits on the deck decides whether it does its job, which is the subject of Where Should the 4-Fold Shower Screen Sit on the Tub Deck?.

Do You Need One

Nothing about the tub requires a screen. Owners add one when they use the hand shower or a shower column while in the tub and want the spray contained, because the door seal is designed to hold back the water inside the bathing well, not spray that lands outside it. If you mainly fill the tub and soak, there is no spray for a screen to catch. Because the screen, the shower column and the swivel tray all share the deck near the door, decide on the screen before the tub is installed and mention it when you talk with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.

How the Screen Mounts and Why Placement Matters

The screen is mounted by your installer following the installation instructions, which the team can send along with your owner's manual. The bottom edge must sit on the inside edge of the deck, the inner lip closest to the bathing well, and follow that lip along its full length. Pay closest attention to the panels over the door and on the hinge side. If any panel sits farther out, water that hits the panels runs down the screen into the narrow gap between the door edge and the deck, outside the seal, and follows the door jamb to the floor. The tell-tale sign is a leak that appears only when the jets or hand shower are running, with water on the outside of the door on the hinge side, even though the seal itself is fine. Check by folding the screen fully open and looking at where the bottom edge sits, then running the jets and watching where the spray goes. If a panel is outboard, have your installer reposition the mount.

4-Fold to 3-Fold Conversion

The video on this page shows how the 4-panel glass door becomes a 3-panel door by removing one inside panel: lay the door on a soft surface, remove the screws and plastic retainer inserts at the third panel from the wall side on both sides, lift the panel out, reconnect the outside panel to the middle panel with the spacer in place, refit the inserts and screws without over-torquing, and snap on the screw caps. A 3-fold screen is how the accessory fits a 52 inch tub set in a 60 inch alcove with an extension panel, described in What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub?. Mention the alcove and the panel when you ask about the screen.

Planning Around the Swivel Tray and Replacement Parts

The swivel tray pins into a fitting beside the door on the stainless inward-swing deck and rotates a full circle, so it can interfere with a glass screen. Plan the position of both before either is installed; see What Is the Swivel Tray on a Walk-In Tub?. Small screen parts can be replaced: the bottom aluminum frame on shower screens is one the team can locate and ship with a tracking number. On the LayDown tub screen, separate parts are limited and some pieces ship attached to the glass, so check every piece, including anything on the glass, before reporting it missing. Anything damaged in shipping should be reported within 48 hours of receipt with all packaging kept. The parts process is in Missing or Broken Shower Door Hardware: Rollers, Tracks, Knobs and Frame Parts.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introduction to Shower Screen Conversion This video demonstrates how to convert an Ella's Bubbles four-panel shower screen into a three-panel shower screen.
  2. 0:12 Removing the Inside Panel The technician carefully lays the four-panel door down and removes the inside screws and plastic retainer inserts from the third panel.
  3. 1:02 Detaching the Third Panel The third panel is now completely free and can be removed from the shower screen assembly.
  4. 1:25 Reconnecting the Panels The technician brings the outside panel to connect with the middle panel, keeping the spacer in place, and reconnects the hinge.
  5. 1:47 Securing the Connections The plastic retainer inserts are replaced and secured with screws, ensuring all connections are tightened properly.
  6. 2:16 Final Touches and Installation The screw caps are snapped on, and the three-panel door is now ready for installation or combination with other Ella's Bubbles products.

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Three Fold Shower Screen Assembly with chapters and a full transcript.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Unpack and Prepare the Screen The video begins by showing how to carefully unbox and unwrap the four-fold glass shower screen, recommending setting it on the floor bottom side up.
  2. 0:27 Install Wall Channel and Gasket The technician measures and marks the wall channel position, drills holes, inserts anchors, and then places the gasket into the bottom channel of the shower screen.
  3. 1:20 Secure End Caps and Knobs The technician removes a screw, places the end cap molding, secures it, draws the gasket through, inserts seal end caps, trims excess, and places chrome knobs.
  4. 2:08 Adjust Screen Height and Level The screen is placed onto the channel to determine the proper height and level, which is critical for the correct function of the bottom gasket.
  5. 2:39 Final Secure and Seal The technician marks and drills holes, re-secures the door to the wall channel, attaches decorative screw snap caps, and applies a thin bead of silicone caulk.

Common Questions

What does a shower screen do on a walk-in tub?
It is a folding set of glass panels mounted on the tub deck that catches spray from the jets or hand shower and returns it to the bathing well. The door seal holds back the water inside the tub, and the screen keeps spray from landing outside it.
Do I have to buy a shower screen with my tub?
No. The screen is an accessory, and the tub works without one. It is worth adding if you plan to use the hand shower or a shower column while in the tub and want the spray contained. Decide before installation so the mount and the swivel tray can be planned together.
Why does my tub leak at the door only when the screen is used?
The screen is probably sitting too far out on the deck. It must sit on the inner lip closest to the bathing well, especially over the door and on the hinge side. When it sits outboard, spray runs into the gap between the door and the deck and down to the floor even though the seal is fine.
Can the 4-fold screen be made to fit a 52 inch tub?
Yes. Removing one inside panel converts the 4-fold screen to a 3-fold screen, which is how it fits a 52 inch tub in a 60 inch alcove with an extension panel. The video on this page shows the steps.
Will the swivel tray get in the way of the screen?
It can, because the tray mounts near the door on the same deck. Plan the screen position before either accessory is installed, and mention both when you order so the layout works.
Can I get replacement parts for the shower screen?
Some. The bottom aluminum frame is a part the team can locate and ship. On the LayDown tub screen, separate parts are limited and some pieces come attached to the glass. Send photos and your model or kit number through ellasbubbles.com/support.

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