Brit Reacts to how GERMAN HOUSES are made! (roof)

[@evilmessiah81]

its done on almost every building in germany, its an old tradition, and a reason for everyone to get drunk

[@althelas]

The Richtfest goes back to the 14th century, back then the moment the roof was up it was time to thank the builders and pay all your bill in regards to the building. Nowadays it is still a way to say thank you... to the builders, to the neighbours, family and friends with a little party.

[@m.h.6470]

The celebration is called the "Richtfest" ("Richt-" comes for "Errichten" = building up, "fest" = celebration/party). It is very common, if you build traditionally - so not for prefabs.

[@RustyDust101]

Nope, it's from "aufrichten", getting something upright.

[@m.h.6470]

@@RustyDust101 Did you actually check the etymology? I guess you didn't, as "aufrichten" and "errichten" are literally on the same level, when it comes to explain the origin of the word "Richtfest". So we are literally both correct and your "correction" is completely irrelevant.

[@RustyDust101]

9:40 😂😂 that was one of those horrible literal translations that give off the wrong vibes. In German "Jetzt komme ich!" is dependent on the inflection if it is naughty, or just a "Here's my turn!". Yes, it can be translated as "Here I come..." but that's definitely not the intended 18+ rating you got from it. It just meant, both spouses have to participate in hammering that last nail (again, symbolism) so she waited for her husband to hammer it most of the way, to then ask for her turn at it.😂😂😂 Yeah, obviously this CAN also be misconstrued in German as well, and probably has been done thousands of times. But it's far less prone to such 'acts of misunderstanding '.😂 Yes, the Richtfest (or its many colloquial terms for it) is done even for major refurbishments or extensions of roofs. Four years ago I had to have my roof completely refurbished to fulfill the energy saving standards, and I asked for a full Richtfest. It was great fun. If you look at the word "upright" in English and "aufrecht" in German you see the relationship between the English and the German language. The Richtfest comes from the verb "auf" being "up" and "richten", to get something upright. In this case, getting the beams upright, and the final structure into an upright position.

[@biloaffe]

We built 90% of our house ourselves, my wife, my brother and I. Sometimes one or two friends helped out. Our roof has an area of around 380 m², that's around 3,800 roof tiles, with a total weight of around 15 tons. We did everything ourselves except for the roof truss, interior plaster and concrete screed.

[@PropperNaughtyGeezer]

A friend of mine was a carpenter. They just build the roof structure, celebrate the topping-out ceremony and build the next roof structure. That doesn't take long. He actually celebrated the topping-out ceremony all the time. You need a good liver.

[@kilsestoffel3690]

At my parents house, the last bar was "missing". We had to search for it. When it was found, my father "rode" on it to the house, he sat on it and the neighbours carried them, shaking the bar, lifting it Up and down, even turning it. My poor dad had giant, black bruises at his thights. At the celebration for the house were (according my mom) over 100 people of the extented neighbourhood.

[@Arch_Angelus]

The topping-out ceremony (also known as Bauheben, Weihefest, Hebefest, Hebfeier, Hebauf, Hebweih, Hebmahl, Firstbier, Aufschlagfest or Hiebschmaus; in Austria Gleichenfeier, Firstfeier/-fest or Dachgleiche; in Switzerland Aufrichte, Low German Fensterbeer) is celebrated when the shell of a building has been completed and the roof truss has been erected or the roof has been put on. A topping-out ceremony typically takes place on the building site and during working hours so that everyone can attend. For houses without a roof truss, a "ceiling party" is sometimes celebrated instead, and for renovation work on historic towers, a topping-out party is also conceivable. The topping-out ceremony can be traced back to the 14th century. The custom can be traced back to ritual forms of interest payment and compensation for work, which were not uncommon in the Middle Ages. The festive gatherings held to mark the completion of individual works must be regarded as legally binding symbolic acts, which were characterized by contact between subjects and authorities. In this sense, the topping-out ceremony is associated with the harvest beer or harvest festival. Procedure of the topping-out ceremony The roof is decorated with the topping-out wreath (also known as the topping-out crown) or the topping-out tree and one of the carpenters or the foreman gives a short speech, the topping-out speech or carpenter's speech. The topping-out speech is on the one hand a thank you to the architect and builder, and on the other a request for God's blessing on the house. The speaker is traditionally given wine or schnapps to drink to the well-being of the homeowners and throws the glass from the roof at the end of the topping-out speech. If it shatters on the ground, all will be well; if the glass remains intact, it is considered a bad omen and a disgrace for the thrower. The builder still has to hammer in the last nail, sometimes the carpenters play a little trick on him. The topping-out ceremony is followed by a celebration, usually held on the construction site. The builder hosts the feast, which is his way of thanking the craftsmen involved. In the 15th and 16th centuries, drinks and food at the beginning or end of a construction phase were also part of the craftsmen's wages. In addition to the craftsmen, all other helpers, the neighbors and a representative of the developer are also invited to the topping-out ceremony. It is also an opportunity to show friends and relatives the progress of the construction work. In the past, the topping-out ceremony was organized somewhat differently. The builder also had to hammer in the last nail, but the rafter in question was initially kept hidden by the craftsmen. The carpenters then negotiated with the builder about the amount of beer to be delivered for the celebration before the builders revealed the secret of the beam. The builder then hammered in the nail, was then placed on the rafter and carried around the new building three times before the celebrations began. The name The name "topping-out ceremony" is derived from the term "erecting", which refers to the erection of the roof truss. This is why the topping-out ceremony is also called Aufrichte in German-speaking Switzerland. The Austrian name Dachgleiche expresses the fact that both sides of the roof have reached the same height. The term Dichtfest is sometimes used for houses without a roof truss.

[@RustyDust101]

The breaking of the glass is a symbolic act of sacrifice, similar to biblical sacrifices of animals or farm produce. In this case the different patron saints for the many specialties of craftsmen were called upon to bless the house with good fortune. Like "no woodworm", "no lightning strikes", "no fires", etc. As the symbolic act of breaking something somewhat valuable (remember, right up to the industrial era, glass was considered a luxury item) bad luck should be averted by misguiding the bad luck into the small sacrifice instead of the much more valuable house. Sure, superstition from a modern perspective, but traditions often were and remained as a loved reminder no one remembers the origin of.

[@easybreezy4559]

I was under the impression that in Britain there weren't many new builds because there is such a restriction on keeping nature as is. I would like to see the construction of one of y'all's houses. I know that there are also a lot of extra rules because of history and such there.

[@ScribbleScrabbless]

I used to volunteer for Habitat for humanity, we helped build houses for people who couldn't afford to. We even got to go to Costa Rica in middleschool to help there❤

[@easybreezy4559]

I was thinking he should try to find one of those builds to watch for an American house!

[@bigboyoppermann1644]

the congrats voice translation from the Guests is fuckéd up! XD XD XD XD

[@danielmcbriel1192]

Didn't the Amish in the film "Witness" also celebrate a Richtfest ceremony for the barn? But the Amish are also old Germans.

[@senf286]

Fore me as a child, this ceremoni was one of the most impressive things I remember. It's also a biiiiig thank you to the proud builder. It's important that all the handcraftsman to get fully stuffed and also drunk. I loved and will love it! ❤🎉

[@seranoth2723]

its important that "impotent" gets its "r" and "a", else i feel very sorry for all the handcraftsman.

[@senf286]

Typing errors can be cruel! 🤣🤣🤣

[@tubekulose]

"Now I come!" is just an unfortunate literal AI translation of "jetzt komme ich (dran)!", which means "it's my turn now!". 😁

[@revgurley]

In the US, our channel HGTV (it might be Canadian, but we get it) is on EVERY doctor's office, dentist office, hospital, even public government buildings. Only channel that makes few to no comments on politics, so it's a safe channel for everyone. It looked like the piping along the floor toward the beginning is heated flooring. Hot water snakes around and heats the floor, which is wonderful on your feet in winter, and also can help heat the house. I'd love to have that in my bathroom.

[@m.h.6470]

Wait, what? The house is definitely in Germany. The owners, the builders, the neighbors - all German.

[@revgurley]

@@m.h.6470 I meant where I am, not where the video was set.

[@m.h.6470]

@@revgurley "This is in the US, not Germany" doesn't sound like you describe your location.

[@revgurley]

@@m.h.6470 Corrected for grammar.

[@reinhard8053]

It doesn't help to heat the house but it is the only way the house is heated. Good for heat pumps and you don't loose wall area to radiators.

[@mickypescatore9656]

They don`t show every little step of constructing. So I do think they measure it up! ..."Now I come": You naughty boy! 😂 The ceremony: King of similar thing you surely know from shipbuilding, don`t you? Greetings from Germany! 😊

[@grauen1989]

A Richtfest is very often done, my sister and her husband also had one, when they build their house. They had to drink a whole bottle of schnaps together after hammering the last nail into the roof. Think this a regional thing here in the countryside and elsewhere less is drunken like in the video where it was a single shot.

[@franz1102]

You also know this ceremony with the "babtism" of boats, if you have a new buil boat then you smash a bottle of champain on it before it goes first time into the water, brings luck (or maybe you damage it with the bottle), same with the house, shall bring luck to the house and the owners. Gives you a good reason to drink and have party anyway 😍😎

[@azrael7582]

The Tradition is normally done by all house builders its for wishing good luck to the New Owners and to dispell any misfortune and bad luck , so that the house can protect everyone safe in it. Its quite common.

[@scumonkey]

In NYC they put up on the roof either a flag or a small fir tree when they top out a skyscraper... but no party.

[@Debyday1]

Schön! Samt Richtfest! 👍🏻💯✨

[@anna-ranja4573]

You are very close, it is a wedding. The walls marriage the roof ☺

[@christianx8494]

If you are too mean to have that Richtfest party the builders might take revenge. An empty bottle, hidden somewhere in the construction where it cannot be found easily, its neck open to the wind, may create a howling noise, its origins hard to find.

[@conjunctivius8552]

Loved your reaction😂😂😂 now i come😂😂😂

[@KTKacer]

Similar (the roof part, anyway) in the USA, only, generally you choose from one of several "cookie cutter" styles that suit you tastes and the region's weather... Then you have the bottom parts to match the roof, otherwise you construct your own pieces yourself, which a PITA, but doable. Ony we only do the tile rooves, generally in the SW & Florida, I think... or the south in general. Then we put down ply wood, then there's this thick coated tar paper stuff that goes down, then the asphalt shingles.... I think those are solar collection tiles, most homes in Germany have a solar power collection option. But AI... it's just not great... sorry.

[@Emanuel-t5e]

it also is the "low end" style, you see them using screws and metal elbow fittings, the "high end" ones are real carpentry joints, that don't rely on metal parts but on appropriate shape of the wooden parts so they connect.

[@greeensmoker8607]

Im a german Carpenter and we do this with every new House that we Build.

[@flattop223]

9:56 they've been saying that everything comes like now it's time for the roof to come now it's time for the tiles to come, and then when it gets to her turn it's time for her to come which sounds pornographic. I'm obviously not German I don't know how obvious that is unless you've recognized my name from other videos I'm from America but I've never heard of any of this stuff

[@Hirndille]

Thats why you never run up or down on stairs. The ceremony for the house is called erection feast, because then the house is fully erected. (Built up to full height) Its very important to have a successful hammering in of the last nail, the speech and that those glasses shatter. There is a saying "Scherben bringen Glück" "Shards bring good fortune" referring to the broken glass. With all this the house will stand stable forever and will provide good luck to its inhabitants.

[@lazrseagull54]

Brits don't really build their own houses like this as much. It's more common to buy one of many identical houses that are part of a larger development. Most homeowners buy houses that were built long before they were born and the few new houses on a street usually have to be inkeeping with the aesthetic of the old ones.

[@Bass_Tee]

Yes. it's called "Richtfest". The house will stay for decades, so celebrate its "birth"

[@Sepsitis]

in the past, houses were build to last long. Entire generations! to build a house was and is a long process and costs lot of money. the tradition to celebrate the house with the roofing is a rite to have the best luck in the new and hopefully forever standing building, like a blessing for the house and the family. in the past the village came together and were more bounded than ever. a party for everyone and to involve the people. I come from a village and you'll stay a long time, if you're paid between 300.000 and 400.000 k. in the village, there are some more different rites, than the city-people know. practice you do. just do.

[@maryhubbard2889]

I have never heard of this before but the house turned out good

[@circemuller1933]

Itsnormal,we make this for our House, thats Tradition

[@matiki8]

You honor the worker for your house. The worker build a House for your live.

[@wietholdtbuhl6168]

This House will becomes nice to the End😊!!!

[@derHerrMueller2]

Ja massiv und lange teure bauzeit, die halten aber auch 100 Jahre und mehr...lol und fliegen nicht bei einen Sturm weg😂

[@irminschembri8263]

The translation is horrible !! The stupid AI should have said, " NOW IT IS MY TURN " !! Geeeeze !!

[@clash8181]

But you are not sure, right? Maybe she meant what she said 😂

[@martinklaus2203]

The AI voice is funny!!

[@jurgengrove2488]

Hey bro! Don't swear on something you have no idea about! Every part of the roof structure has been formatted by a CNC controlled machine. This indicates all points. where other elements are coupled You can't see these cracks in the film. Weird, right!!!

[@Marcus-p5i5s]

Not much different than in Florida except the roofs in Germany are not near as strong as in Florida

[@reinhard8053]

Examples ? From what I've seen in videos and photos the american roofs (also in Florida) look much weaker or at maximum the same as in Germany. Roofs in Germany (more so in the south) are constructed for heavy snowfall. 1,5m of snow on the whole roof is still OK. Only if it rains into that or it continues snowing the roofs get cleared for safety reasons (been there, done that). My roof has 20x8cm rafters (~8x3") and I'm not even in the mountains.

[@danielmcbriel1192]

​@@reinhard8053 laut HGTV gelten für Florida besonders strenge Bauvorschriften wegen der Hurricanes.

[@Marcus-p5i5s]

@@reinhard8053"From what I've seen". You just don't KNOW how they are constructed. Until then best to keep quiet.

[@Emanuel-t5e]

@@reinhard8053 the house had shitty carpentry anyway. As in they used metal screws and elbow joints (winkel), instead of proper carpentry joints, where the shape of the wood itself is used to connect it.

[@MrGlamour2011]

Where are you from? Because of your Accent 🙂

[@CamoJan]

The AI voices are atrocious! Not sure why they can't use real people's voices!

[@danielmcbriel1192]

Money?

[@stevenbalekic5683]

The narrator is either Ai/computer generated or doesn't know correct English speach...or both.

[@helfgott1]

stop yelling