Topping-out ceremony in view of Corona

Nevertheless, we took the very short-notice opportunity to casually invite relatives, friends, and neighbors to come by the construction site on the said day from 5 p.m....

The topping-out ceremony is the best opportunity to get to know the new neighborhood and fellow builders, and that in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Even in 2013, it was communicated that the topping-out ceremony falls into the private time of the craftsmen and none of them really fancy staying while they could already be at home with their family. The wreath was donated by our general contractor (included in the construction service description). On Thursdays from 4 p.m., guests could come, among them also the "new ones" who found a flyer from us at their shell construction. The exchange, also about the home building companies and exactly what is being discussed here, is worth its weight in gold. I think the corona topic can now also once again be dropped or downplayed a bit. Everyone now knows that GGG and distancing are best. At the shell construction site, the guests also spread out well, and they mostly just stop by for one or two hours for two beers, a shot, and a bowl of soup.

Long story short: do something nice and personal for the workers at 2:00 PM, even if it's just a tray of cake & coffee with maybe some small gifts. And afterwards, you can leave the house open as an opportunity for neighbors and friends to stroll through. It doesn't have to be elaborate, but I find it rather sad to simply cancel it altogether.

We will definitely thank the workers so far with a gift, but we will not organize a traditional topping-out ceremony. Because so far, only 2 workers from the general contractor (besides the earthworker, to whom I have already delivered a gift) have been around, and the carpenter who will join next week.

For friends and (selected neighbors) I will organize something at short notice as soon as the property is a bit emptier, so that one can also have a look at the house and then organize a nice little gathering. Currently, there isn't even room for a table on the property...

So last year (Aug) we also held a small topping-out ceremony with neighbors and the carpentry/roofing company. There were about 25 people. I had inquired at the public order office beforehand whether there could be any problems with such a celebration during the Corona period. It was denied, since the gathering took place outdoors. I think all involved were happy to see something different again and to be able to celebrate a little. :)

We had our topping-out ceremony in June. We celebrated in the new house, as there is always enough space there. It was also at 2:30 PM. Then the construction workers came (but only a few) and the friends who were already free at that time. Family and neighbors joined later, by then some had already left. It was a very nice day and I don't want to miss it. For me, it simply belonged to it.

At least in the true north, SH, Corona is no longer a big disturbance since we have largely abolished the mask requirement indoors; after all, we are close to DK and everyone is very well vaccinated, man, woman, child. A topping-out ceremony is a nice thing. I like to remember it. April, 2017, quite cold, the construction workers did everything in the days before to get the hut reasonably sealed, with a guest heater, warm food, plenty to drink, music, jokes, the construction company was there with about ten people including the boss. Friends, new neighbors, it got hyggelig, and in the end everyone was hugging with plenty of Doppelkorn…..

I spoke with our master mason yesterday; he said that he and his colleague are not upset if we don’t do it, as they both still have a 1.5-hour drive home. When I asked, he also told me how we can make them happy if we insist on doing it (we do :D). We will now hold the whole thing on the next possible day (when the weather forecast is reasonably good) without the craftsmen. Corona itself is not decisive for us either, as we are also holding it outdoors.