Big storms and bad guys can’t beat a fortified mudroom.
MAYBE, IF IT’S A SAFE ROOM AGAINST STORMS OR CRIME
Mudrooms are the ugly ducklings of the home. Purely functional, the dirt and sloppiness are so integrated and expected in this room that “mud” is a part of its very name.
While the romance of a grand, sweeping foyer is undeniable, equally undeniable is the reality of boots, snow gear and trudging children with backpacks, eventually necessitating an offset area or secondary (we all know it’s really the primary) entrance. For so long, mudrooms were hidden behind closed doors, full of dirt, disorganization and shame; but the ugly duckling has grown up, and this swan is ready to dazzle with everything it can do.
During the past 100 years, the scale, purpose and design of rooms across the home have changed. Similar to kitchens and bathrooms, mudrooms started out simply fulfilling an unglamorous need. But now they are one of the most egressed, dual- function rooms in a household, and rapidly increasing in popularity, according to the American Institute of Architects.
Though smaller than most other occupied areas of the home, the mudroom is the ultimate multi- purpose room, often designed to double as an activity landing zone, storage space and even natural disaster shelter.
Most of my clients, if they are renovating their existing home, are seeking the most popular mudroom combo: the mudroom/ laundry room. It is a natural combination, since dirty clothes are dropped off for both, and thus helps contain the mess to just one area.
The second most popular choice is to double- purpose ( or, if in combination with a laundry room, even triple- purpose) this area for storage. Bulk food storage in the mudroom can be especially helpful if it is near the kitchen; storage for sports, school and seasonal activities gear can easily be accommodated and integrated. I love a defined broom closet or enclosed storage area for vacuums and cleaning products — those unsightly buckets and heavy- duty sponges — that is easily accessible and organized behind cabinetry intended for that very purpose. Co-ordinated with drawerbase bench seating and open, upper- bin storage, function can be equally balanced with form.
But mudrooms are starting to serve specialized secondary purposes, too. One particularly specialized, dual-function for the mudroom is slowly gaining traction, and it could be the most compelling and architecturally significant trend yet: designing your mudroom to be a fortified safe room. In a time of increasing extreme weather, working with an architect to fortify against natural disasters — and/or home invasions — could be a life-saving decision for you and your family.
Assessing your risk is the first step. The advantages of archi- tecturally fortifying your mudroom are especially great if you are in a high tornado, hurricane or crime region. Then consider what your available options are: Researching whether you live in a flood hazard zone, if there is a high water table, or if you are in a storm surge area will define what type of emergency shelter you should consider — or if it is safe to have one at all. If such is the case, you wouldn’t put one in your basement, for example.
Next is the planning phase: Are you building a new home and integrating this into the design? Or are you retrofitting an existing mudroom to accommodate this new and secure space? It is easier to start from new construction, but both options are possible, as long as your mudroom sits on a slab on grade or has a basement or crawl space. But check with your municipality; if it’s considered a safe room, it may not be legal, for example, for it to have an exterior door.
The building requirements for natural disaster home shelters are specific and proper material selection is imperative. Materials must have tested strength and durability against debris impact and wind pressure: Check with your municipality for their minimum requirements. In many places, all vertical surfaces ( doors and walls — no windows allowed) have to be able to sustain impact from a 15- pound 2x4 wood board travelling at 160 kph; horizontal surfaces ( the ceiling/roof ) have to be able to endure the same at 108 kph. “Storm doors” available off the shelf are very rarely missile impact tested or pressure tested, but the proper doors can be specified by your architect or purchased through a commercial building product supplier.
Needi n g much greater strength than typical building codes require, your architect will likely specify concrete ( or, alternatively, wood framing with steel sheathing) for the structure of your mudroom emergencyshelter walls. The walls may need to be bolted into a reinforced concrete slab, the ceiling may also need to be reinforced concrete, and all connecting corners — you may have guessed — may need extra reinforcement. The structure of your mudroom itself could actually be completely separate from the rest of your house’s structure — even on shared walls and the ceiling — so that any damage to the rest of your home does not affect the integrity of your fortified safe room.
For a full list of requirements, suggestions, guidelines and building specifications, talk with your municipality and/or province, architect and contractor.
Mudrooms are multi-purpose facilities: Beyond kicking off your shoes and hanging your hat, they can be designed to store everything from bulk overflow to kids’ gear to pet food, and, if designed properly, help protect you and your family during worstcase scenarios.
PREPARING FOR NATURAL DISASTERS COULD BE A LIFESAVER.