Converting covered stone porch to mudroom
#1
09-07-17, 12:02 PM
Converting covered stone porch to mudroom
Hello, I have a 20' x 8' covered porch with a nice mortared-stone-block floor. It slopes slightly away from the house. The walls of the porch are formed from the rest of the house protruding forward. I.E. there is an indentation in the house where the roof covers a large outdoor porch. We want to make a mud-room out of the porch. We are in New York climate zone 7 (long island). It seems straightforward enough to put up the outside wall with another entry door and some windows. I'm not sure how to heat (and/or ventilate) the room, and whether or not I need to insulate the floor and build it up (I have around 5" available that I could build it up if need be). My hope is that the suggestion will be: keep the stone floor as is, slap up the wall, and put a space-heater in the wall. But I'm also thinking I may need to put down XPS rigid foam, possibly radiant coils on top, and then a skim-coat on top of that to bring the floor level, and then some vinyl or tile on top of that. (I'm not excited about screwing anything down into the current floor, but I would probably have to if I insulate it?)
I don't need to have the room be 70 degrees ... but would like to get it up to 60 in the winter for most of the day. Any suggestions for the floor or other things I may need to consider?
I don't need to have the room be 70 degrees ... but would like to get it up to 60 in the winter for most of the day. Any suggestions for the floor or other things I may need to consider?
#2
09-07-17, 04:15 PM
Group Moderator
How much you need to do to maintain your desired 60f in winter will depend on how much you want to spend and when. You can close it in with one outer wall but you'll have an uninsulated floor and ceiling. The construction will be cheap but you'll be paying a lot to heat it. The more you convert it to proper conditioned space with an insulated floor and ceiling the lower your energy cost will be.
How much higher is your house's floor above the stone patio? Is there elevation for building a floor above the stone patio?
How much higher is your house's floor above the stone patio? Is there elevation for building a floor above the stone patio?
#3
09-07-17, 04:19 PM
Your best bet is to have an architect draw some plans. All your questions will be answered. I've worked in that area, so I know it very well. The last thing that you want is to have to building dept. stop the job half way through the job which is very possible there.
#4
09-08-17, 06:11 AM
I have around 5" vertical floor clearance to the front door. I guess you think insulate floor and ceiling and essentially make it like indoor space. My thought was that if I leave the floor as is, it's more of an enclosed porch - not additional living area, and less of a potential issue with the town, if it came to that ...
#5
09-08-17, 03:21 PM
Group Moderator
Only your local zoning and building board can determine if your work will require a permit and approvals. If the roof is already existing and you're just adding an outer, non load bearing (no foundation), temporary wall could make it lean one way. Trying to convert it to space that can be heated (conditioned) to at least 60f in the winter will push you more towards the full zoning and building permit process. Again, only your local officials and how they feel that day can say.
