Off to Qatar! - Tile Advice

[Ozzy]

Have any of you worked in Qatar before? I'm going over soon to tile 8 large bathrooms in one house and obviously need to be prepared. Any tips would be appreciated. All expenses paid and I'm staying with the customer. I have a few questions....

1. As they are big bathrooms (approx 30 m2 each) I'm thinking of charging per m2 and a day rate for prep. Is this the right way to go? All new solid walls.

2. The customer is taking my tools out a week before I go, I need to make a list of what to take, can anyone recommend anything to make my job easier? I only have a basic tiling kit so can anyone recommend any new gadgets on the market?

3. The most important: Golf. I've had a look at the course out there and it's so expensive to play! Does anyone know what the driving range prices are? I've only been playing 6mths and want to keep practising.

Please add any other advice.

I'm excited but really nervous!

 

[Andy Allen]

Big step from just coming back into tiling!
I would just work on a day rate till you find your feet.
What tiles are you fixing?
What adhesive and grout will be available?
Some countries have very different fixing methods to ours due to the climate.
I would want to take every tool in my van to be honest.....but can't see that being practical....take the basics and hope there's a place to buy anything you need.
Good luck and I hope it all works out.

 

[Italy]

I would not know what to advise you ....
my principle is not to go abroad to work.
the few times I went, many broken promises.
the main problem is that by now you are in the site and you have to work, you can not think of returning home and solve the problems you have found abroad.
jobs not ready, the hotel did not pay, or materials not available.
is always an unknown quantity, the last time (15 years ago) in France, I had to pay money in advance for sleeping and eating, week by week.
Now, it is a month that keep calling, for a job in Kazakhstan, 50 marble bathrooms, I continue to refuse work.
There are -15 degrees, all workers on the site speaks Russian, every 15 days you have to go home and come back. (Problems with visa).

and then as you know, I do not know languages. ahhah
I just say many wishes

 

[Ozzy]

I'm meeting her tonight so will get some questions together for her. She did say she was sourcing everything from the uk which I found odd as this is a far more expensive way of doing things. I have done some work for her family years ago and she always said she wanted me to do her tiling. I know this is going to break me, I'm slim and getting on a bit, lol. She knows I'm not as quick as other tilers but still wants me to do the work.

I'm meeting her tonight to look at the house plans/pics and tiles she has chosen so can get a better idea of what I'm up against. She's welcoming me into her home to live (maids galore so no housework or cooking!) and socialise with her family so it's not the usual site work.

I only have 2.5wks of work here plus a 2 bathroom job in April so financially I have to go.

I didn't realise about different fixing methods for other climates, I'll look into this.

Thanks.

 

[Dumbo]

If it is going to break you leave it .

 

[Ozzy]

I'm kidding, it'll be hard work but I'll be fine. I'll be off by early March for 3 months now.

 

[Unused Account 1]

Just different addy as its very hot there ,

 

[Ozzy]

She's had all the tiles sent from porcelanosa but buying everything else out there including my tools. She's going to sort out golf for me too as I'm working 7 til 3 I'll have plenty of time to play!