When the first cold snap hits Kamloops and the boots, backpacks, and wet dog start piling up by the front door, a lot of homeowners have the same thought: we need a better entryway. A well-built mudroom is one of the most practical renovations you can make in our climate, and early fall is the ideal time to plan it — before the snow, salt, and slush arrive in earnest.
At Hodder Construction, we've built and renovated entryways in homes all over Kamloops, from Sahali split-levels to Aberdeen new builds to older homes in the North Shore and Brocklehurst. Here's what a mudroom project actually involves in 2026, what it costs, and how to plan it so it's ready before winter.
Why a Mudroom Makes Sense in Kamloops
Kamloops gives your entryway a workout. Dry, dusty summers track grit indoors; winters bring snow, road salt, and mud during the freeze-thaw cycles that define our shoulder seasons. A dedicated transition space keeps all of that out of your living areas and gives every family member a spot for coats, boots, and gear.
Beyond day-to-day tidiness, a functional mudroom protects your finishes. Salt and moisture are hard on hardwood and carpet, and a proper entryway with durable flooring and a bench-and-hook system dramatically reduces wear on the rest of the home. For families, it's also a genuine sanity-saver during the school year.
Where a Mudroom Can Go
Most Kamloops mudroom projects fall into one of three approaches:
- Repurposing existing space — Converting an underused area near an entry, such as part of an oversized front hall, a section of the garage, or a former laundry nook. This is the most budget-friendly route.
- Reconfiguring the garage-to-house entry — Many Kamloops homes come in from the garage. Carving out a few feet for a built-in bench, lockers, and a closet here is popular and highly functional.
- Building a small addition — When there's no space to borrow, a modest bump-out addition off a side or rear entry creates a purpose-built room. This is the most involved and expensive option.
The right choice depends on your floor plan, your budget, and how your family actually moves through the house.
2026 Cost Ranges in Kamloops
Costs vary with size, finishes, and whether you're borrowing space or adding it. As realistic 2026 planning numbers for the Kamloops area:
- Basic entryway refresh (durable flooring, a built-in bench, hooks, and cubbies in existing space): roughly $4,000 to $9,000.
- Mid-range mudroom (custom built-in lockers or cabinetry, tile or luxury vinyl plank flooring, new lighting, a closet, and possibly a utility sink): roughly $12,000 to $28,000.
- Mudroom addition (a new bump-out with foundation, framing, roofing, insulation, electrical, and finishes): typically $45,000 to $90,000-plus, depending on size and complexity.
If you want a bench where wet gear dries quickly, in-floor radiant heat is a worthwhile add-on — budget around $3,500 to $7,000 for a small mudroom-sized zone, and it pairs well with tile.
Prices move with material costs and scope, so treat these as starting points rather than quotes.
Permits and the BC Building Code
Whether you need a permit comes down to what the project touches. A cosmetic refresh — new flooring, a bench, hooks, painting — generally doesn't require a City of Kamloops building permit. But the moment you change the structure, add plumbing (like a utility sink), alter the building envelope, or build an addition, permits come into play.
A few things to keep in mind for Kamloops projects:
- Additions require a building permit from the City of Kamloops and must meet the current BC Building Code, including the BC Energy Step Code requirements for the new conditioned space — meaning proper insulation levels, air sealing, and envelope detailing.
- Electrical work (new circuits for lighting, heated floors, or an EV-adjacent charging spot) requires a permit through Technical Safety BC, and should be done by a licensed electrician.
- Plumbing for a sink triggers a plumbing permit and must follow code for drainage and venting.
- If your home was built before 1990 and you're opening up walls, budget for possible asbestos testing — it's required in BC before disturbing certain older materials.
A reputable contractor handles the permit process for you and coordinates the required inspections. It's one of the biggest reasons to work with an established local builder rather than piecing the job together yourself.
Design and Material Choices That Hold Up
The whole point of a mudroom is durability, so material selection matters more than in most rooms:
- Flooring — Porcelain tile and quality luxury vinyl plank are the workhorses here. Both shrug off salt, water, and grit. Tile pairs especially well with radiant heat.
- Built-ins — A bench with shoe storage below, hooks or lockers above, and closed cabinets for seasonal gear keeps clutter controlled. Cubbies per family member work well for households with kids.
- Walls — Durable, washable paint or a section of shiplap or panelling stands up to scuffs and bags far better than flat drywall paint.
- Drainage and drying — A boot tray zone, good ventilation, and a spot near a heat source help wet gear dry fast so your mudroom doesn't stay damp.
Good lighting and a few hooks at kid height turn a functional room into one the whole household actually uses.
Why Fall Is the Time to Start
Timing is the theme every year. A cosmetic mudroom refresh can be completed in a couple of weeks, but a mudroom addition involves permits, foundation work, and framing — a process that can run several weeks to a couple of months. Starting the planning and permit process now, in early fall, is what gets an addition weathertight before Kamloops winter sets in, and gets an interior conversion finished before the busiest mess of the season.
Booking early also means better access to trades. Once the snow flies, everyone wants their entryway fixed at once — planning ahead puts you at the front of the line.
Ready to Tame Your Entryway Before Winter?
A mudroom is a small project with an outsized payoff in daily comfort, and Kamloops weather makes the case better than we ever could. Whether you're eyeing a simple bench-and-hook refresh or a full addition, the team at Hodder Construction brings 40-plus years of local experience to getting it done right, on budget, and on time. [Request a free estimate](https://www.hodder.ca/estimate) and let's plan an entryway that's ready before the first snowfall.