Working on a 12-foot cathedral ceiling in Portland last month and my neck is still killing me

Got a job finishing a big living room remodel out in the West Hills. The homeowner wanted smooth walls all the way up this steep vaulted ceiling. I was up on a baker scaffold for three days straight, mudding and sanding overhead. By the second day, my shoulders felt like rocks and I had a headache from looking up so much. I tried using a pole sander but getting the right pressure for a Level 5 finish was nearly impossible with it. Ended up doing most of the final coat by hand, which was brutal. The check was good, but I'm honestly dreading the next call for a high ceiling. What's your go-to method for overhead work that doesn't wreck your body? I've heard some guys use different stilts or even rig up special platforms.

3 comments

3 Comments

blair_allen3mo ago

Honestly, the real game changer for me was getting a prescription for physical therapy. My doc set me up with a guy who works with a lot of tradesmen. He showed me a simple neck stretch to do before I even get on the scaffold, just tilting my head side to side with my hand. Tbh, it sounds too easy to work, but doing it for two minutes before starting saved me from those brutal headaches. It's not about the tools, it's about getting your muscles ready for that awful position. Ngl, I still hate overhead work, but at least I can move my head the next day now.

patricia_wells3mo ago

What kind of stretches did your physical therapist show you for your shoulders? My neck gets tight, but it's my shoulders and upper back that really seize up after a day of overhead sanding.

blair_allen2mo ago

Right, because nothing says "getting ready for a hard day's work" like gently swaying your head side to side like a confused turtle... I've been doing that for weeks now and my shoulders still sound like I'm crushing a bag of chips every time I roll them back. But hey, at least the headaches are gone, small victories I guess. Maybe next week they'll show me how to stretch my way out of a full body cramp mid-sanding... I won't hold my breath though.