wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm building a 24 x 28 garage/shop and would like to have more than an
8 foot ceiling height in it. It's going to be a 4" monolithic pad and
I was thinking of laying 1 or 2 courses of 8" concrete block and
building with standard studs to keep from doing lots of cutting. One
corner of the pad will be about 16" - 20" below grade, but I won't be
backfilling around it, so I think I will be ok.

Some questions...
1. Any issues with this approach for increased height? Will put j
bolts in block and pressure treated sil plate.

What does your zoning requirements say? Where I live you will not be
building walls on a 4 inch pad even with steel in it. Wall require a
foundation, where I live that would be a stem and footer.
Stems are a mininium of 24 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Footers are
usually 8 inches thick and height as needed.

2. When running the electrical conduit (stand alone garage), would you
run the underground conduit through the floor/block so it goes straight
up the inside walls?

Sure would depend on the lay out of the building for me. I have done it both
ways. Conduit is more expensive but changeable. Last garage I did was with
3000 Wiremold. Got the Wiremold for a song and then I could just put what I
wanted where I wanted.

3. If I am using 1 or 2 courses of block, is there a recommended way
of tilting up the stick framed walls onto the block/sill plate?

See number 1


4. any general suggestion/things to look out for?

Call the zoning folks and have a visit with them before you walk off that
short pier. Could save ya a peck of trouble.