For years our Burlington house had a side entry that dumped directly into the kitchen — no buffer, coats on a hook on the wall, boots on a rubber mat. Last year we added a proper mudroom addition. This is the full account.
The space: We added a 12x8 foot (96 sqft) bump-out at the side of the house, converting the existing door opening into an interior passage from the mudroom into the kitchen. The addition sits on its own frost wall foundation and has a shed roof tying into the existing wall.
Burlington permit process: Online application through the city. Building permit took 19 days. We needed a site plan showing the addition setback (ours is 1.6m from the side lot line, Burlington minimum is 1.2m — passed). Drawings required: foundation plan, framing plan, elevations. Our contractor drew them.
Foundation: Frost wall, 1.4m depth, poured concrete with 4-inch slab. $6,800.
Framing, sheathing, roofing: Stud wall, match existing window height, shed roof at 3:12 pitch, steel roofing to match detached garage (not main house). $8,200.
Exterior: James Hardie fibre cement to match existing. $2,900.
Interior scope (the good part):
- Heated tile floor (Schluter Ditra Heat, 96 sqft): $2,100 installed
- Porcelain 24x24 tile: $1,400 installed
- Built-in bench with storage drawers underneath: $2,800 (local millwork shop)
- Upper lockers x5 (one per family member): $3,400
- Coat hooks and accessories: $380
- Lighting (3 pot lights + pendant): $640
- Bench window (casement, natural light): $900
Total: $29,520 (permit included at $380)
The side entry is now genuinely pleasant to use. Boots stay contained, coats have homes, and the heated tile dries wet boots overnight. Best renovation we have done.