Watch out Bremerton----there is a new restaurant coming your way!

The “Space Needle” and “Seattle” have been joined at the hip since the World’s Fair took over the city in 1962. (In case your next question is, “When is the next World’s Fair?” It is in Shanghai, China, in May, 2010.)

Given that Seattle is somewhat prone to earthquakes, I have often marveled at this magnificent structure in terms of engineering. Not only what it took to build it----but what it takes to keep it there.

With a little “digging,” you can learn that the reason it stays put is because the underground foundation it is anchored to, weighs roughly twice as much as the whole structure above the ground. This leaves the structure with the “illusion” of being top-heavy, when in reality it would be like trying to tip over the great Willie Dixon when he is sitting down playing his harp.

It still leaves me wondering about the effect on the SkyCity Restaurant, perched on top of the structure, in the event of a catastrophic earthquake. I can envision the needle whipping the restaurant off into the Puget Sound like a giant Frisbee (or skipping stone), only to end up across the Sound in Bremerton.

This allusion to the Space Needle is only here to get us around to a discussion of pedestal sinks----that are indeed VERY top-heavy---even if they do look a little like the Space Needle. When you fill them up with water, the sink becomes even MORE top-heavy. These sinks come with holes in the base to bolt them to the floor. The basin at the top has holes to bolt it to the wall. After all this bolting has been done the basin is caulked to the wall to further aid in holding it in place----as well as to keep splashes from running down behind the basin.

In this next picture we can see the bolting holes in the back of the sink and even the holes in the walls for inserting the molly bolts. The bolts just aren’t there.

In this picture we can see the bolting holes at the base of the pedestal. We can see a somewhat half-hearted attempt at fastening it----but still no cigar.

To get back to the Space Needle----contrary to recent rumors----the Space Needle is NOT for sale for $79,000,000----or any price for that matter.

To get back to Willie (I Can't Quit You Baby) Dixon, he is still tipping the charts even though he is sadly no longer around to see it.

Charles Buell

Seattle Home Inspectors, ASHI Home Inspector, Licensed Home Inspector, Structural Pest Inspector, Charles Buell Inspections Inc, Seattle, WA

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