The Tradition behind the “Topping Off Ceremony”

Just like many groups of workers, the construction industry also has its own set of traditions and ceremonies.  One such interesting tradition is the “topping off (or topping out) ceremony,” which is a builders’ rite held when the last beam is placed atop a structure during construction.  

The tradition started out as a religious rite in ancient Scandinavian countries.  Wikipedia states that the practice consisted of placing a tree atop a newly finished building as a way to “appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced in its construction.”  To mark the celebration, a meal was prepared for the workers and a toast made to the success of the project.    

In America the topping off ceremony usually includes painting the last beam white and then having it signed by all the construction workers as well as the rest of the team involved in the construction project.  Another part of the tradition is to place an evergreen tree or leafy branch on top of the last beam along with the American flag; although if a death occurred as a result of the construction process, a tree is not used.  A meal or a toast may be included, and it is often used as an opportunity to hold a media event to promote the new building.  

Along with the U.S., the tradition is still common in Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria, Iceland, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland among others.   Another tradition, Pannenbier, which means (roof) tile beer, is popular in the Netherlands and Flanders.  It involves hanging a flag up once a building reaches its highest point.  The World Library site says, “The flag (usually the national, regional or city flag) then stays in place until the owner of the building provides (free) beer to the workers, after which the flag is lowered. It is considered greedy if the flag is flown for more than a couple of days.”

At The Conco Companies, we are a leading concrete contractor in the Western U.S. and offer a wide range of quality services and products.  Our experience includes providing services for commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.  We serve California, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topping_out, worldlibrary.org/articles/topping_out