Does the sub-panel seem over loaded? If so, I could keep the water-heater in the main panel and free up space in the panel another way.
Seems reasonable to me. Most of the equipment won't draw anywhere near the overcurrent rating, at least not during normal operation. Motor loads will draw a higher current on start, but you shouldn't have a problem.
I know I need four-strand wire to run to the sub-panel (2 hot, neutral, ground) but copper or aluminum and what gauge?
You can use either copper or aluminum, though I recommend copper for DIYers. Copper is quite a bit more expensive, but it's easier to work with (in my opinion). If you feel confident working with aluminum conductors, you can save some money using it.
I've covered the topic of feeder sizing here, so I won't go into detail. If you're using copper, you'll want to use 3 AWG conductors. If you choose to use aluminum, you'll need 1 AWG conductors.
If you want to run a single cable, instead of individual conductors in conduit. You can buy what's called 3-3-3-5 SER cable (1-1-1-3 for aluminum), which will contain three 3 AWG conductors (hot,hot,neutral) and a 5 AWG grounding conductor.
When I run the wire along the floor joist, does it need to be secured to the joist or can it just hang there and rest on the drop ceiling? Seems like it should be secured to the joist with wire hanger or something.
You'll have to attach the cable to the joists, using 1 - 1 1/4" staples or other approved means. Check the packaging, to make sure they are rated for the size cable you're using.
What are the things about this project that I don't know that I don't know. :) These are the scary things IMO...i.e. the questions I don't know enough to ask.
The cable you'll be working with is thick and heavy, and it's not going to be fun pulling it. You'll probably want a couple helpers, to help you wrangle it.
Make sure all your connections are tightened to the manufacturer's specified torque.
If you choose aluminum conductors, make doubly sure you tighten the connections. And don't forget the anti-oxidant.
Come back a day or two after the panel has been put into service, and tighten any connections that need it.
Don't forget to remove the bonding jumper between the grounded and grounding bus bars.
You'll need clamps big enough for the cable, to secure it to the panels.
should I put a 100 amp breaker in the sub-panel to act as the "main" for the sub-panel? Or is the 100 amp breaker in the main panel sufficient?
You can usually pick up a main breaker panel, for about the same price as a main lug only (MLO) panel. In my opinion, unless the secondary panel is next to; or within sight of, the main panel. You're better served to install a main breaker panel. It simply offers better protection during maintenance, or other work within the panel.
For example. If you turn off the feeder breaker in the main panel, and start working in the secondary panel. Somebody could easily come along, and flip on the feeder breaker. Since you can't keep an eye on the breaker, you can never be sure the panel will be dead. (unless of course you're using a lockout like you should).
If the secondary panel is in a separate building or structure, then you either need a main breaker, a main disconnect, or the ability to disconnect all ungrounded conductors within 6 or less hand moves.
Best Answer
Count the amps on the breaker handles in your existing panel. If you're extra skilled, figure out which pole they are on also. You'll find you have well in excess of 100A of breakers on each pole, and well over 200A of breaker handles. Already.
This kind of oversubscription is allowed because not everything will be going full-blast at once.
As such you can have the existing 100A panel plus another 100A panel at the house, plus a 100A panel in the shop.
You can have a new 200A main panel in the house that feeds the existing 100A panel as a subpanel, and a 100A panel in the garage also.
The way you avoid overloading that is called a "Load Calculation" which takes into account general house loads on average (3 VA/watts per square foot of house), certain circuits (e.g. 1500W per kitchen general recep circuit), and certain large appliances (either their actual nameplate or a stock formula e.g. for ranges). A garage subpanel doesn't go into the load calculation by its breaker trip, but rather, by which tool(s) you're likely to use simultaneously with the other loads. If your house is legal for a 100A load calculation right now, adding a "60A" panel in the garage isn't going to make you over-top a 200A service.
While you're doing the upgrades, consider a "Meter-Main" which is a combination meter and main breaker. That will be Code when NEC 2020 is adopted in your state. However it also provides ease of maintenance later.
They also make "Farm panels" which combine a meter-main with a miniature 8-space panel, to allow you to tap the 200A service to feed various subpanels and very large loads, while still sending the full 200A onward to a 200A subpanel. . So for instance the farm panel might have a 100A breaker to feed an existing panel, another 100A breaker to feed a shop, and the straight-thru feed goes to feed a 200A subpanel for large or future loads.
Again, the amp rating of the subpanels is irrelevant, what matters is whether the service size is sufficient for the loads to be served based on the Load Calculation.