Midwest Accessory Structures

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Midwest Accessory Structures More room for your life.

We create fully finished backyard buildings designed as true extensions of your home — perfect for home offices, hobby spaces, and year-round comfort.

The right way to insulate a building in Arizona is the wrong way to do it in Minnesota. If you've ever thought about fin...
10/15/2026

The right way to insulate a building in Arizona is the wrong way to do it in Minnesota. If you've ever thought about finishing and insulating a shed structure, there are some important details you don't want to get wrong— like the roof insulation, air sealing, and moisture barrier. Doing this wrong could mean that moisture causes your roof structure to silently rot from the inside out.

After years of running my own construction business, I’ve seen many homeowners projects go awry and then they hire me to fix it afterward. Most often, it’s just a lack of knowledge and experience, not a lack of care or wanting to do it right.

That’s the reason I was inspired to write some blog articles that specifically address insulating a shed. This article addresses the traditional vented attic approach used in most homes in the context of heating and cooling a shed structure in Minnesota and there’s another one on the unvented “flash and batt” method.

https://midwestaccessorystructures.com/blog/15

If there’s a way I can help, I’d love to be a resource for anyone who is thinking about creating a dream backyard space. Free advice— comment below or send me a message.

Your dream backyard building needs a coat. But one coat isn't going to do everything. Let's clear up the confusing const...
09/18/2026

Your dream backyard building needs a coat. But one coat isn't going to do everything. Let's clear up the confusing construction insulation jargon: https://midwestaccessorystructures.com/blog/14

Here's an analogy that helps:

💨 Windy outside? You need a windbreaker — that's your air barrier.

🌧️ Raining? You need a raincoat — that's your v***r control.

🥶 Cold? You need a puffy winter jacket — that's your batt insulation.

🎩 Going to a wedding? You need a dress coat — that's your finished ceiling and interior.

When you search online for how to insulate a backyard building, you'll find a LOT of conflicting information (Reddit only adds to the confusion). And much of it isn't necessarily wrong. It's just meant for a different building, in a different climate, using a different construction method.

Minnesota isn't Florida. A traditional attic isn't a hot roof. Air sealing isn't v***r control. And spray foam isn't the answer to everything.

I've been digging into this because I want to help homeowners stop getting this stuff wrong. I'm putting together a series explaining how we're approaching year-round backyard buildings here in Minnesota—including our use of an unvented hot roof and flash-and-batt insulation.

Because if you're thinking of DIYing insulating a shed, you shouldn't have to figure out building science by piecing together conflicting advice from the internet.

Build the right coat for the climate.

More Space for Your Life.

09/07/2026

Watch as I turn the walls of this shed office into 2x6 walls to maximize the insulation that can be installed to create a building that is comfortable year-round.

09/01/2026

This. Feels. So. Good.

Just a fun little video to bring a smile to you all (unmute the audio or it won't be as fun) showing the final installation of the patio door in the shed office model.

Next up-- modifying the framing to be 2x6 walls.

Sometimes the best space for your home doesn't fit inside your house. There's value in having separate spaces—something ...
08/28/2026

Sometimes the best space for your home doesn't fit inside your house.

There's value in having separate spaces—something we've gradually moved away from in modern remodeling and new home construction.

When remodeling a floor plan, many people assume that knocking down walls is the best way to make a home feel bigger. And while it certainly creates a more open space, it can also remove the boundaries that give each room a clear purpose.

A phone call is no longer private. The workout equipment lives in the storage room. The desk finds its way into the living room, where household distractions are everywhere, like your beloved family members.

Focus becomes harder to find.

Before long, every room is trying to do too many jobs, and the house starts to feel cluttered. More space doesn't always require a bigger house.

Sometimes the answer is separation.

This is not your typical shed. It's a backyard office and someone's dream in the making. The buildings we're creating at...
08/13/2026

This is not your typical shed. It's a backyard office and someone's dream in the making.

The buildings we're creating at Midwest Accessory Structures aren't meant for things; they're meant for people. What if the same basic idea could become something completely different? This one is becoming an office and music space, but it represents a blank canvas more than anything. A hobby room, quiet retreat, she shed, golf simulator—it's a space you didn't know you needed until you had it.

That's the idea we're passionate about.

We're taking the concept of a backyard building and approaching it more like a room of the home—a finished, comfortable space designed around how you actually want to use it.

The building is the blank canvas. What happens inside is what really matters.

08/11/2026

People keep asking me if there's a model they can see-- well, here's the start of it! We partner with Dakota Storage Buildings because they build the very highest quality pre-manufactured storage buildings in the region! Glad they were also able to offer the closed-cell spray foam installation option because it adds additional air and water seal, pest resistance, structural rigidity and added insulation R-value as well!

Follow along as I post videos about the process. I'm excited to make this into the new office and sales model!

A four-season porch isn't always the best way to create more space. That might sound strange coming from someone in cons...
08/01/2026

A four-season porch isn't always the best way to create more space.

That might sound strange coming from someone in construction.

After years of remodeling homes, I understand why homeowners love four-season porches. They create a bright, comfortable place to gather with family, enjoy a cup of coffee, or watch a summer thunderstorm roll through. For many people, they're exactly the right investment. But be sure you are starting with the right question:

What are you actually trying to accomplish?

If your goal is another family room, a four-season porch makes a lot of sense, but if you're looking for a quiet place to work from home, practice music, run a business, paint, write, or simply think without interruption, attaching another room to the house might not solve the problem you're trying to solve.

Sometimes what you really need isn't more space in your house, it's a room with a door.

A detached prefab studio creates separation. You leave the distractions behind, walk outside, and step into a space designed for one purpose. When you're done, you close the door and come home.

Maybe the better question is, "What kind of space would improve the way we live?"

More Space for Your Life.

midwestaccessorystructures.com

PS - thanks, Kenny, for the real-life conversation that inspired this post 😀

What’s the difference between an ADU and a backyard studio? They look almost identical from the outside with the same si...
07/23/2026

What’s the difference between an ADU and a backyard studio?

They look almost identical from the outside with the same siding, roof, and windows, but there are some distinct differences.

A backyard office or hobby space is designed to be used for part of your day. An ADU is designed for all of it.

While a backyard studio or office is intended to provide separation from household distractions to focus, an ADU is a complete living space with a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area. Similar building, but the difference is the purpose.

Need space for an aging parent or other family member? You would want to build an ADU. Need a place to work from home? A backyard office is your ticket!

Both create more space, but they create it in different ways. Let us help you make the right decision about how to get More Space For Your Life.

I just had a conversation with a GC and a painter who both mentioned this:Even a great remodeling experience is still di...
07/20/2026

I just had a conversation with a GC and a painter who both mentioned this:

Even a great remodeling experience is still disruptive.
Dumpsters. Dust. Noise. Workers in your home every day.

That's not a criticism of remodeling.

It's just reality.

Sometimes creating space outside the home is worth considering before tearing into the one you already love.

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Ramsey, MN
55303

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+16124702401

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