I'm interested in building a large workshop on my property using a combination of limestone rock & concrete. My general idea is to excavate down to solid rock and build a layer of rigid insulation between two stone walls. The outer wall would be about 8 inches thick with main purpose of protecting about 4 inches of rigid insulation. Inner wall would be thicker, at least 12 inches, for structural strength. I want to use a modified type of slip form construction where each wall has a smooth, continuous concrete surface against the insulation. I'm hoping to create a building that the inside will stay the constant ground temperature year round.
My land is very flat and does not drain very well. Our average annual rain fall is supposed to be around 55 inches & I believe our record was 63 inches in 1973. I plan to increase the ground height around the workshop to allow creation of some sloping of the ground away from the foundation. Drain tile does no good where I live unless you route it to a sump pump.
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on protecting the foundation from water? The only option I do not have is building in a different location!
Do I need to be concerned about moisture condensation? If so, would running a hummidifier solve this problem?
What can I use (besides wood) to tie the inner & outer walls together for additional structural strength without creating any thermal bridges?
This is a long term project I plan to do by myself, maybe with a little help from my son later on (he is only 11.) I have a small shop already (24' by 32') with a concrete floor, but it is just pole barn type construction. I'm currently working on the excavation in my spare time and have a hole about 20' by 30' with about 10' square down to bare, solid rock. There is about 12 inches of good top soil on top of red clay. You start finding loose rocks about 2.5 feet down mixed in with the clay and the solid rock is 4 to 6 feet down. This has all been done with a wheelbarrow, a garden spade & my muscles. I enjoy hard work.
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