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Laying large-format tiles with Kerakoll
Why this brand · Kerakoll #4 · The brands Saniso stocks, and why
Laying large-format tiles asks more of the adhesive than a small wall tile does. A slab of 120 × 60 cm, or even larger, needs a bed that stays open long enough, supports the full face and still holds on a wall without slip. In this fourth edition of our series Why this brand we look at how Kerakoll approaches that job: H40 Gel for formats up to 3000 × 1500 mm, coverage figures per millimetre of bed, and Biogel adhesives when the substrate itself can move. You'll see which products Saniso lists with a price today, and how they sit in the wider tile system.
In short
The idea: a gel adhesive bed that supports large formats on walls and floors, with the right deformability for the substrate.
The Kerakoll range at Saniso: H40 Gel in white and grey for large formats up to 3000 × 1500 mm, plus Biogel Ready and Biogel Extreme for deformable substrates.
The layers: a flat, sound base first, then primer where needed, then the gel adhesive, then grout and sealant.
Prices: 4 products from €33.28, incl. and excl. VAT. Biogel Ready and Biogel Extreme currently show an offer price on the product page.
Always: follow the technical data sheet of every product for bed thickness, mixing and waiting times.
Why does laying large-format tiles need a dedicated adhesive approach?
A large tile leaves little room for an uneven bed. Hollow spots under the face show up as a dull sound and raise the risk of a crack later. The H40 Gel page lists high-quality adhesion and conformability for all sizes and types of tiles, including large formats up to 3000 × 1500 mm, and a thixotropic yet fluid consistency without vertical slip. Choosing the tiles themselves is covered in our guide on buying ceramic tiles; how you check and tile a floor in general is in how to tile a floor, step by step. Here we stay with the adhesive for the large formats.
How does large-format bonding sit in the Kerakoll tile system?
Large-format work still follows the same order as any Kerakoll tile job. The adhesive is one layer in that system. Primer, waterproofing and levelling each have their own guide, so this article keeps the focus on the gel bed under the large tiles.
| Layer | What it does | Kerakoll at Saniso |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Level the base | A flat, sound floor or wall before the first large tile goes down | See our guide on levelling a floor before tiling |
| 2. Waterproof (wet rooms) | A waterproof layer under tiles in a shower or wet room | See our guide on waterproofing a wet room before tiling |
| 3. Prime where needed | Prepares absorbent or smooth substrates before the adhesive | Active Prime family (see the system guide) |
| 4. Bond the large tiles | Gel adhesive for large formats and for deformable substrates | H40 Gel white/grey, Biogel Ready, Biogel Extreme (priced below) |
| 5. Grout and seal | Grout and sealant in matching colours | See Why Kerakoll? The system behind a tidy tile job |
Which Kerakoll gel adhesive fits your large-format job?
The overview below uses the descriptions and figures on the product pages at saniso.nl. The thickness and coverage figures are those the pages state, and the technical data sheet of each product always has the final word.
| Situation | Product page says | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Large ceramic or stone formats on a stable substrate, walls and floors | All sizes and types of tiles, including large formats up to 3000 × 1500 mm; bed thickness 2–15 mm; white about 1.2 kg/m² per mm | H40 White Gel (priced below) |
| The same large-format job with a grey adhesive bed | Same format range and bed thickness; grey about 1.3 kg/m² per mm | H40 Grey Gel (priced below) |
| Flexible or deformable substrates, long adjustability, also diagonal laying | Ready-to-use gel adhesive for high-adhesion, high-deformation laying with no vertical slip; coverage about 1.6 kg/m² | Biogel Ready (priced below) |
| Extreme deformability and fast bonding on demanding substrates | Highly deformable hybrid gel adhesive, tested under extreme working conditions; about 1.45 kg/m² per mm | Biogel Extreme (priced below) |
What are Kerakoll's strengths and opportunities for laying large-format tiles? (a positive SWOT)
A SWOT usually looks at a brand from a boardroom. We wrote this one for the person holding the trowel: what the gel range does well, where it opens doors for you, where it fits best and why we stock it.
Strengths
- Formats up to 3000 × 1500 mm: the H40 Gel page lists that size range explicitly for professional tilers.
- Gel behaviour on walls and floors: thixotropic and fluid, with no vertical slip, so the same family covers wall and floor large formats.
- Clear coverage figures: white about 1.2 kg/m² per mm, grey about 1.3 kg/m² per mm, so you can plan the number of bags from the bed thickness you choose.
- Deformable-substrate options: Biogel Ready is described for flexible or deformable substrates, and Biogel Extreme for extreme deformability.
- Low-emission formulations: H40 Gel lists very low VOC emissions; Biogel Ready is described as solvent-free.
Opportunities
- Indoor and outdoor large formats: H40 Gel is listed for floors and walls in residential and commercial environments, and for pools, spas, saunas, facades and heavy-traffic areas.
- Diagonal laying on moving substrates: Biogel Ready is described as suited to diagonal laying on flexible or deformable substrates.
- Fast schedules: Biogel Extreme is described with very fast bonding under demanding conditions.
- One cart for the whole system: primer, gel adhesive, grout and sealant can travel together with the tiles.
Where Kerakoll fits best
- Large-format porcelain, ceramic or natural stone on walls and floors.
- Jobs that need a 2–15 mm gel bed with a long open time.
- Substrates that can move, where Biogel Ready or Biogel Extreme take the deformation.
- Wet rooms and outdoor areas, once the base and any waterproofing are in place.
Why Saniso carries Kerakoll
- H40 Gel and Biogel in one shop, next to tiles, primers and tools.
- Clear prices incl. and excl. VAT on every priced product.
- A wider Kerakoll range is available on request: add products to your Project List for a bulk quotation.
- Thousands of products in stock in the Netherlands and next-workday delivery when it fits in a parcel.
How do you approach laying large-format tiles with Kerakoll, step by step?
This is the general order of work. It is an overview, not a replacement for the technical data sheets: bed thickness, mixing ratio, waiting times and the right primer depend on the product and the substrate, so read the sheet of each product before you start.
- Choose and check the tiles. Large formats need a flat, sound base and a plan for cuts and layout. Our guide on buying ceramic tiles covers choosing ceramic tiles; the laying method for a floor is in how to tile a floor, step by step.
- Prepare the base. Level where needed (see levelling a floor before tiling) and waterproof wet rooms first (see waterproofing a wet room before tiling). The large tile only looks as flat as the surface under it.
- Prime where the sheet asks for it. Absorbent or smooth substrates often need a Kerakoll primer before the gel adhesive.
- Pick the gel adhesive. H40 Gel for large formats up to 3000 × 1500 mm on a stable base; Biogel Ready or Biogel Extreme when the substrate is flexible or needs high deformability.
- Mix and spread. Follow the technical sheet for mixing. Spread a full bed, and butter the back of the tile when the sheet or the tile size calls for it, so the face is supported.
- Set and adjust. Place the tile, adjust within the open time, and use levelling clips or spacers as your layout needs.
- Wait, then grout and seal. Respect the waiting time on the sheet before grouting. Finish with grout and sealant in matching colours, as in Why Kerakoll? The system behind a tidy tile job.
How does Kerakoll H40 Gel support laying large-format tiles?
H40 Gel is the product page that names the 3000 × 1500 mm format range. White and grey share the same bed thickness of 2–15 mm and the same thixotropic, no-slip behaviour. Below are both colours at the live shop price.
Kerakoll H40 White Gel
A multifunctional gel adhesive developed for professional tilers, for ceramic tiles up to natural stone on virtually any type of substrate. The product page lists all sizes and types of tiles, including large formats up to 3000 × 1500 mm, a thixotropic and fluid consistency without vertical slip, an extended open time and pot life, very low VOC emissions and an application layer thickness of 2–15 mm. Consumption for white about 1.2 kg/m² per mm of thickness.
What is it for? Bonding large-format tiles on walls and floors, indoors and outdoors, where a gel bed and a long open time help.
Kerakoll H40 Grey Gel
The same H40 Gel family in grey. The product page lists the same large formats up to 3000 × 1500 mm, the same 2–15 mm bed thickness, and consumption for grey of about 1.3 kg/m² per mm of thickness. Thixotropic and fluid, with no vertical slip, for floors and walls.
What is it for? The grey option of the same gel adhesive when the project calls for a grey bed under the tiles.
How much H40 Gel do you need per millimetre of bed?
The product page gives coverage per millimetre: white about 1.2 kg/m² per mm, grey about 1.3 kg/m² per mm. A worked example for 10 m² at a 5 mm bed of white H40 Gel: 10 × 5 × 1.2 = 60 kg. Packaging on the page is listed as 20 kg bags, so that is three bags, plus a little spare. Always confirm the bed thickness and coverage on the technical sheet for your substrate and tile.
| Product | Bed thickness on the page | Coverage on the page |
|---|---|---|
| H40 White Gel | 2–15 mm | ≈ 1.2 kg/m² per mm |
| H40 Grey Gel | 2–15 mm | ≈ 1.3 kg/m² per mm |
| Biogel Ready | see the technical sheet | ≈ 1.6 kg/m² |
| Biogel Extreme | see the technical sheet | ≈ 1.45 kg/m² per mm |
When do you reach for Biogel instead of H40 Gel?
Biogel Ready is described for flexible or deformable substrates with a long adjustability time, and Biogel Extreme for extreme deformability and fast bonding. Use them when the substrate itself can move, or when the job needs that hybrid gel behaviour. The flat base and any waterproofing still come first.
Kerakoll Biogel Ready
A ready-to-use gel adhesive for high-adhesion, high-deformation laying with no vertical slip. The page describes a highly elastic adhesive with a long adjustability time for flexible or deformable substrates, even for diagonal laying. Coverage about 1.6 kg/m². Solvent-free formulation.
What is it for? Laying on flexible or deformable substrates, where the adhesive itself has to take movement.
Read also: Waterproofing a wet room before tiling: the Kerakoll way
Kerakoll Biogel Extreme
A highly deformable hybrid gel adhesive, described as bonding everything and tested under extreme working conditions. The page lists very fast bonding, high stress resistance and easy spreading as a fluid gel. Coverage about 1.45 kg/m² per mm of thickness. Monopack 10 kg.
What is it for? Demanding large-format jobs on substrates that need an adhesive with high deformability.
Read also: Levelling a floor before tiling: the Kerakoll way
Can you use the same gel on walls and on floors?
Yes. The H40 Gel page lists floors and walls, indoor and outdoor, and states no vertical slip. That matters for tall large-format wall tiles, where the bed has to hold the weight while you adjust the tile.
Can you lay large-format tiles yourself?
Experienced DIYers do, especially with formats they can still handle safely. Large slabs are heavy and leave little margin for an uneven bed, so take the time to prepare the base, follow the technical sheet and have enough hands or lifting gear ready. If you are unsure about a detail, ask us before you order or have a tiler check the plan.
Which tips help you get the most out of Kerakoll gel adhesives on large formats?
- Read the technical data sheet of every product before you start.
- Plan coverage from the bed thickness: white 1.2 kg/m² per mm, grey 1.3 kg/m² per mm.
- Order adhesive, primer, grout and sealant together, so the whole job arrives in one go.
- Keep a full bed under large formats; hollow spots under the face are harder to forgive than under a small tile.
- Put the products you want a bulk quotation for on your Project List.
What is the delivery time at Saniso?
Order on a workday before 15:00? Then your order is delivered the next workday, as long as it fits in a parcel. Pallet shipments have a different delivery time. Saniso has thousands of products in stock in the Netherlands. Saniso is on its way to becoming the e-commerce platform for construction across Europe, and already delivers to more than 20 countries.
How do you order at Saniso if you're not a customer yet?
Your first order is easy to place:
- Create an account via register. Already have an account? Log in here with your email address or phone number.
- Choose your product and click "Add to cart", or go straight to "Buy now". For products without a listed price, the product page shows the current availability.
- Check out: all prices at checkout include VAT.
- Choose delivery or pickup: have it delivered, or pick up your order for free in our showroom.
How do you stay up to date on offers?
Want to know when there are new offers? Sign up for the newsletter: scroll to the bottom of any page on saniso.nl, enter your email address under "Newsletter" and click "Subscribe". You'll get updates on offers and discount coupons, and we don't spam. With an account you also collect loyalty points for a discount on your next purchase.
More about this in the Saniso FAQ under "How do I sign up for the newsletter?". Questions about ordering, payment, shipping or returns are answered there too.
Frequently asked questions
Why does laying large-format tiles need a special adhesive?
A large tile needs a full, even bed and enough open time. H40 Gel is listed for formats up to 3000 × 1500 mm with a thixotropic, no-slip gel consistency.
What format range does H40 Gel cover?
The product page lists all sizes and types of tiles, including large formats up to 3000 × 1500 mm.
What bed thickness can you apply with H40 Gel?
The page lists an application layer thickness of 2–15 mm. Confirm the thickness for your tile on the technical sheet.
How much H40 Gel do I need?
White about 1.2 kg/m² per mm of thickness, grey about 1.3 kg/m² per mm. For 10 m² at 5 mm of white that is about 60 kg.
When do I choose Biogel Ready?
When the substrate is flexible or deformable. Biogel Ready (€71.33) is described as a ready-to-use gel adhesive for high-deformation laying with a long adjustability time.
When do I choose Biogel Extreme?
When the job needs extreme deformability and fast bonding. Biogel Extreme (€84.64) is described as a highly deformable hybrid gel adhesive tested under extreme working conditions.
What does the Kerakoll large-format gel range cost?
H40 Grey Gel from €33.28, H40 White Gel €35.70, Biogel Ready €71.33 and Biogel Extreme €84.64, each shown incl. and excl. VAT. Biogel Ready and Biogel Extreme currently show an offer price on the product page.
Do I level the floor before large-format tiles?
Yes, a flat base comes first. Our guide on levelling a floor before tiling covers the Kerakoll screeds and self-levelling compounds.
Do I waterproof before tiling a wet room with large formats?
In a wet room the flat base comes first, then the waterproofing layer, then the tiles. Our waterproofing guide explains the Kerakoll layers.
Can H40 Gel go on walls?
Yes. The page lists floors and walls, with no vertical slip, which helps with tall large-format wall tiles.
Do the prices include VAT?
This blog shows every price including and excluding VAT. At checkout on saniso.nl, prices include VAT.
What is the delivery time at Saniso?
Order on a workday before 15:00 and it's delivered the next workday, as long as it fits in a parcel. Pallet shipments have a different delivery time.
Can I pick up my order?
Yes, you can pick up your order for free in our showroom.
Where do I find the full Kerakoll tile system?
In our guide Why Kerakoll? The system behind a tidy tile job: primer, adhesive, grout and sealant from one maker.
Header photo: Sergei Starostin, Pexels.
Next in Why this brand: Cersanit tiles.
Ready to bond your large-format tiles?
View the full Kerakoll range at saniso.nl
View the full Kerakoll range at saniso.nl
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