Much thanks to all that replied. I've been very busy and I just got around
to reading all the posts.

Thanks again

Andrew
"Andrew V" wrote in message
...
WOW,

Gentlemen thank you for some great responses, lots of useful info. I spoke
to a contractor today and he suggested a combination of tube deep in the
slab and some separately poured spots for the power hammer & shear.
nothing else will really need to be anchored deeper then 4"

A couple of follow ups:

Harold-- is the rebar @ 18" centers in addition to mesh or instead of?

JW-- you said you used icf's for the walls is that the full 16'? I'm just
starting to look at them, which ones did you use? I'm planning on 12'
walls toped with concrete plank for the shop area (lower level) and on top
a stick framed garage/studio 9' wall with a gambrel roof. I'm building
into a hillside and the building won't be square (40' x 28' x 50' on the
long side & whatever across the front-hill, long story involves the wife &
her garden.....) on the hill end so I'm interested in how you handle that
with icf forms.

Dave--I do have access to a thermal imager but not that I could take home


As far as the heat source is concerned I'm thinking about a coal fired
boiler(auto stoker) it would easily heat the shop and also offset the
house load too, but if that doesn't pan out a large water heater and a
couple of solar panels would do the shop nicely.
If anybody has shop (construction shots would be real nice) pictures on
line post a link. Once I break ground I'm going to put shots on my web
page. I'm all ears for shop construction tips.

Thanks again

Andrew V