we池e building a new shop and have a few questions and figure this is the best place to get some great insight. brief background. 24x30 pole structure with insulated concrete slab. exterior will be vinyl siding over OSB. inside, we値l run 2x4s between the posts and use that to hang drywall. we池e in lower-mid Michigan so we値l insulate the walls (and ceiling) to the greatest extent possible.
1. sidewall height. I figured 9ft sidewalls would be sufficient, but our builder (also a woodworker) is adamant that I should get 10ft sidewalls. while making the building a little shorter would shave a small amount off the cost, my bigger concerns are (1) how much more will it cost to heat a taller building and (2) will I need more/stronger lighting (because the lights will be that much further from my workspace). are my concerns legit and/or outweighed by the benefits of having 10 foot sidewalls? thoughts?
2. heat. considered radiant heat in the concrete slab, but the cost (cost to run water to the shop as well as the cost of the radiant heat set up) just outweighed the benefit for us. when I知 not working in there, I only need to keep the shop at around 45 degrees or so...and only around 60 degrees when I知 in there working. at this point, am planning on getting a Reznor (propane fueled) unit heater that draws the combustion air from outside and also power vents the exhaust outside. any concerns about this type of heater? what size heater would you get for a 720 sq ft shop (I was thinking a 45,000 BTU unit would be more than enough)?
BTW, the DC (3hp cyclone, vented outside, and in a separate room/enclosure) and the heater will be at opposite ends of one of the 30 foot walls.
3. speaking of dust collection...anybody locate their DC outside? I値l have a small overhang on one side of the shop (under which I値l store rough lumber). I could put it under that and build a little room around it for weather protection. I知 not sure I like the idea of putting it outside, but the space and especially the noise reduction inside the shop would be nice. thoughts?
thanks for any thoughts, suggestions, or insight.