Hey BB, I'm in a similar position. I plan to build a timber frame barn this summer and was planning to use a grade beam and pier system. There would be a pier under each post heavily reinforced with rebar. I was planning on using the "Bigfoot" footing form:
http://www.bigfootsystems.com/AbsPage.aspx?siteid=1&lang=1&id=1169 The rebar in the piers would be bent over to tie into the grade beams. In one of Ted Benson's books, he has a good diagram and description of the whole process. I'm up in Maine so frost is a concern here as well. I too think that a full footer and frostwall is overkill (plus expensive). I'd like to get the post bottoms up off the ground so I'd like to use a 2' high grade beam (6" below ground and the rest above).
I'm interested to see what others with more experience think about using a grade beam and piers.
Joe
