The acrylic shell and stainless steel frame are the two pieces that make up every current Ella walk-in tub. The shell is a vacuum-formed acrylic and ABS sheet reinforced with gel-coated fiberglass, and it is bonded to a rust-proof stainless steel frame with adjustable leveling legs. Together they are what people mean when they ask what an Ella tub is made of, whether it is acrylic or fiberglass, or how sturdy the base is.

How It Works

A sheet of acrylic and ABS is heated and drawn over a mold under vacuum, which gives the tub its seat, floor and deck in one piece. The white runs all the way through the sheet, so it resists fading far better than a sprayed finish, and the surface is gloss white and non-porous, which resists mold, mildew and staining. Fiberglass with gel coat is applied to the back of the shell for stiffness. The team describes the acrylic as roughly 1/8 to 3/16 inch thick with the fiberglass backing behind it.

The stainless steel frame carries the load. It bonds to the shell and stands on adjustable leveling legs that transfer the weight of the tub, the water and the bather straight to the floor. Because the frame does the structural work, Ella sets no fixed bather weight limit; whether the bather fits comfortably on the seat and through the door matters more than weight, as weight limits and bariatric options explains.

Which Ella Models Have It

Every current Ella walk-in tub uses this construction, so there is no model to single out. Every tub is white, and the warranty page notes that the white acrylic tone may vary slightly. Hardware finishes are where the choices live; see tub colors and hardware finishes. For the full construction story, read acrylic construction and frame.

What to Know as an Owner

Lift the tub only by the frame, never by the plumbing or the panels, and remove the access panels before carrying it. Level it so every leg touches the floor with equal weight; an unlevel frame can warp the shell and pull the door out of alignment. For daily care, use non-abrasive cleaners only. Scratches and dull spots come out with a fine-grade automotive polish, and stubborn construction debris responds to denatured alcohol or a soft scrub; acrylic surface care and touch-up has the routine. If the surface looks pink, yellow or stained, tub looks pink, yellow or stained covers the usual causes.

If you contact support at ellasbubbles.com/support about the shell or frame, have your serial number, clear photos of the area in good light, and a note on whether the mark is on the surface or appears to be under it.

Common Questions