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Who installs walk-in showers, and does Ella's Bubbles install them?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. What Ella's Bubbles Does, and What It Leaves to Your Installer
  2. Who to Hire for a Walk-In Shower
  3. What Arrives with an Ella Shower Kit
  4. Designing the Shower Before Anyone Measures
  5. If You Would Rather Shower in a Walk-In Tub
  6. Related Guides
  7. Related Videos
  8. Common Questions

A walk-in shower is installed by a local licensed contractor, with a plumber handling the valve and drain connections. Ella's Bubbles manufactures the shower and ships it nationwide, but it does not send technicians and does not perform installations; the team can help you get in touch with installers in your area and provides free technical support by phone and email while the work is done. Where can I buy an Ella walk-in tub near me? explains how an Ella order and its installation come together.

What Ella's Bubbles Does, and What It Leaves to Your Installer

Ella's Bubbles is a manufacturer of luxury walk-in tubs, assembled in America at its facility in Chicago, and it builds walk-in showers alongside them, including acrylic shower walls and shower bases, for anyone who prefers a shower-based bathing option. Both ship nationwide through the dealer network, so you do not need a store near you to receive one. Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tubs: A General Overview describes the company and its line.

What Ella does not do is the labor. It does not perform installations, and it does not employ technicians who come to your home. Any licensed local contractor can install the shower using the specification drawing and the installation documents, and your installer can call (800) 480-6850 during the job. If a part is ever needed later, Ella ships the part and a local installer or licensed tradesperson fits it, because labor is not covered under the warranty. That division is the same for tubs and showers: Ella supplies the product, the drawings, the parts and the technical support, and a local licensed professional does the physical work. Installation, plumbing and electrical connections are expressly outside the warranty, so the person who does the work is also the person who stands behind the labor.

Who to Hire for a Walk-In Shower

  • A licensed contractor to remove the old tub or shower, prepare the alcove and set the base and wall panels. Ella can help locate a reputable installer, and its technical support guides your contractor for free with the manuals and live video help.
  • A licensed plumber for the water and drain connections. An Ella shower kit ships without a mixing valve or valve trim, and the wall arrives without a valve cutout, so your plumber selects the valve and cuts the openings.
  • A referral from the team if you do not already have someone. The team can help you get in touch with installers in your area, and certification by Ella is not required; any licensed installer is fine.

Sharing the spec sheet and installation documents with your installer before delivery means the rough-in can be ready when the shower arrives, because the drain location and the valve position can be planned from the drawing. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 for the specification drawing for your exact model.

What Arrives with an Ella Shower Kit

An Ella shower kit ships with the stall, the grab bar set listed for that kit and the drain. It does not include a shower head, a hand shower, a mixing valve or valve trim, and there is no valve cutout in the wall. Those choices are left open so your plumber can fit the valve and trim you prefer and place the openings where your plumbing dictates. Plan those purchases with your installer before the kit arrives so the parts are on site on installation day. Because the walls are supplied without openings, the plumber decides where the valve and any shower head arm come through, which is a decision best made against the drawing rather than on the day. If you have questions about what your specific kit includes, ask your Ella dealer, the team at (800) 480-6850, or where you purchased.

If you are outside the United States, the same split applies with one limit. Ella walk-in tubs ship to Canada regularly, but shower bases do not ship to Canada because they are fragile and easily damaged in transit. Ella has no installers of its own in Canada either, so a local licensed contractor does the work there as well, and duties, brokerage and taxes are the buyer's responsibility.

Designing the Shower Before Anyone Measures

The online Shower Builder Tool lets you scroll through the available options and put together a custom shower design before your project moves forward, and that design becomes the starting point for discussing your project with your Ella dealer or the team. After you build a design, a contractor visits your home to measure the space in person and finalize the installation details, so the layout you draft online is checked against the real bathroom before anything is built. Where Can I Buy an Ella Walk-In Tub or Shower? describes the builder tool and the ordering steps.

If You Would Rather Shower in a Walk-In Tub

Some bathers want a shower without giving up the tub, and an Ella walk-in tub can do both. The 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucet sets include a hand shower on the deck for rinsing while seated, and the shower column kit adds a height-adjustable hand shower and an overhead rain head that pivots for a standing or seated shower. The rain head reaches a maximum height of approximately 90 inches, with 14 inches of adjustment down to approximately 76 inches. Because the kit needs access to the back side of the tub, it is installed prior to the final installation of the tub, so mention it when you order. Ella ships the kit, and a homeowner or a local licensed plumber fits it. Can you take a shower in a walk-in tub? covers both options.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Receiving and Inspecting Your Shower The video provides visual guidance for installing a barrier-free five-piece shower, emphasizing the importance of inspecting the unit upon arrival and noting any damage.
  2. 1:32 Dry Assembling Your Modular Shower The installer dry assembles the modular shower in an open space to ensure correct panels, drain location, and proper alignment before moving it to the bathroom.
  3. 3:04 Preparing the Framing Pocket and Subfloor The installer checks the framing pocket for proper sizing, squareness, plumb, and level, making necessary adjustments and inspecting the subfloor for integrity.
  4. 4:05 Installing the Shower Pan and Drain The installer cleans the pocket, dry fits and levels the pan, installs the drain body, and adheres the pan to the subfloor using silicone adhesive and bracing.
  5. 7:40 Assembling and Securing Shower Panels The installer places protection on the floor, caulks the pan ledge, and installs the lower and upper back panels, securing them to the studs.
  6. 8:31 Installing the Valve Wall and Plumbing The installer caulks the pan ledge and vertical back wall seam, sets the panel, drills holes for the valve and supply outlet, and connects the PEX supply lines.
  7. 11:05 Adding Accessories and Finishing Touches The installer marks, drills, and caulks around pilot holes for accessories, then caulks all seams and the front edge of the threshold, recommending a water retainer and shower curtain.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Receiving and Inspecting Your Shower This chapter explains how to receive and inspect your shower unit upon arrival, including what to do if there is damage.
  2. 1:17 Dry Assembling Your Shower This chapter demonstrates how to dry assemble your modular shower to ensure all panels and the drain are correct and undamaged.
  3. 2:49 Preparing the Framing Pocket This chapter shows how to check and adjust the framing pocket for proper sizing, squareness, plumb, and level.
  4. 5:02 Installing the Drain Body This chapter guides you through installing the drain body and preparing the drain to meet local plumbing codes.
  5. 5:44 Permanently Installing the Base This chapter details how to permanently install the shower base, ensuring it is level and properly supported.
  6. 8:12 Installing the Wall Panels This chapter demonstrates installing the wall panels using the pin and slot system, starting with the wall opposite the valve.
  7. 9:13 Installing the Valve and Wall This chapter shows how to install the valve and then the valve wall panel, including connecting the water supply lines.
  8. 11:13 Finishing and Sealing the Shower This chapter covers installing surface mount accessories, caulking all seams, and the option of adding a flange trim molding kit.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introduction to Low-Threshold Shower Installation This video provides visual guidance for installing a low-threshold 3-piece shower, emphasizing the importance of referring to the installation manual.
  2. 0:24 Dry Assembly and Pre-Installation Checks The installer dry assembles the modular shower to ensure correct panels, drain location, and proper alignment before moving it into the bathroom space.
  3. 1:54 Preparing the Framing Pocket and Subfloor The installer checks the framing pocket for proper sizing, square, plumb, and level, making necessary adjustments and inspecting the subfloor for integrity.
  4. 4:07 Installing the Drain Body and Base Support The installer installs the drain body, prepares the drain to meet local plumbing codes, and applies silicone adhesive for proper support and adhesion of the base.
  5. 5:53 Permanently Installing and Securing the Base The installer permanently positions and levels the shower base, securing it to all available studs and cutting the drain pipe even with the rubber gasket.
  6. 7:22 Installing the Wall Panels and Valve The installer installs the wall panels using a pin and slot system, then installs the valve, connecting the hot and cold water supply lines.
  7. 10:19 Finishing Touches and Accessories The installer caulks all seams, recommends client involvement for accessory placement, and suggests an optional flange trim molding kit for a seamless transition.

Common Questions

Does Ella's Bubbles install walk-in showers itself?
No. Ella's Bubbles manufactures walk-in tubs and walk-in showers in Chicago and ships them nationwide, but it does not perform installations and does not send technicians. A local licensed contractor and plumber do the work, with free technical support from the team by phone and email during the job.
Who should I hire to install a walk-in shower?
A licensed local contractor to prepare the space and set the base and walls, and a licensed plumber to select the valve, cut the openings and make the drain and water connections. Certification by Ella is not required. If you do not have someone, the team at (800) 480-6850 can help you get in touch with installers in your area.
Does the Ella shower kit include the shower head and valve?
No. The kit ships with the stall, the grab bar set listed for that kit and the drain. The shower head, hand shower, mixing valve and valve trim are supplied by you or your plumber, and the wall arrives without a valve cutout so the plumber can cut the openings where the plumbing dictates.
Will Ella send a technician if something fails later?
No. Ella does not send technicians; a verified replacement part ships under the warranty and a local installer or licensed tradesperson fits it, since labor is not covered. Technical support by phone and email is available to your installer throughout.
Can I design my shower before hiring an installer?
Yes. The online Shower Builder Tool lets you scroll through the options and put together a custom design, which becomes the starting point for your conversation with your Ella dealer or the team. After you build a design, a contractor visits your home to measure the space in person and finalize the installation details.

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