The Portico™ Trial System is the smart way to test paver stain colors before committing to a full project. It includes 3 of your choice Portico™ colors in sample sizes, your choice of sealer, and 6 foam brushes — everything you need to test colors on your actual pavers and see exactly how each one will look on your specific surface before ordering the full quantity.

Pavers vary significantly in material, density, porosity, and existing color — and all of these factors affect how Portico™ absorbs and appears on your specific surface. The same color can look noticeably different on a dense concrete paver than it does on a more porous clay brick, or on new pavers versus ones that have been weathering for several seasons. Testing on your actual pavers is the only reliable way to confirm your color before investing in full quantities.

How Portico™ Works — and Why Sealing Is Not Optional

Portico™ uses a solvent carrier to deliver a high concentration of pigment into the pores of your paver surface. The solvent allows the pigment to penetrate deeply and evenly, depositing color at the intensity your pavers can hold based on their specific porosity. As the solvent evaporates, the pigment remains behind in the pores of the paver — producing a rich, consistent color that works with the natural character of your surface rather than sitting on top of it.

But here is the critical point: once the solvent evaporates, the pigment is deposited in your pavers but is not yet locked in place. Until a sealer is applied, that pigment will wash away with water, rain, or foot traffic. The sealer is what permanently bonds the Portico™ color to your paver surface.

Skipping the sealer — or delaying it — is not an option. This is a 2-step system by design. Stain without sealer is an unfinished and unprotected project.

Why You Need to Test on Your Actual Pavers

The variables that affect how Portico™ looks on your specific surface include:

• Paver material — Concrete pavers, clay brick, and natural stone each have different pore structures that absorb pigment differently, affecting color depth and evenness
• Porosity — More porous pavers absorb more pigment, producing deeper, richer color. Denser pavers absorb less, producing a lighter, more even result
• Paver age — Older, more weathered pavers tend to be more porous and may absorb color more readily than newer pavers
• Existing color — The original tone of your pavers affects the final result. Portico™ is a stain, not a paint — the underlying paver color will influence what you see after staining
• Surface condition — Efflorescence, existing sealers, residue from prior treatments, or uneven weathering will all affect how evenly Portico™ penetrates and how consistent the color appears
• Prior treatments — Any existing sealer or coating on the paver surface will block Portico™ penetration in those areas and produce uneven or absent color

Testing 3 Portico™ colors on your actual pavers — and sealing each test area — shows you exactly what the final result will look like before you commit to a full project.

Why Testing Saves You Money

A full Portico™ project involves stain and sealer across your entire paver surface — a meaningful investment. If you order full quantities, apply the stain, and discover the color isn't what you expected, your options are limited. Portico™ penetrates into the paver surface, and correcting color once it's applied and sealed is not a simple recoat. The Trial System is the affordable way to confirm your color — and confirm how your specific pavers absorb it — before placing a full order.

Choosing Your Sealer

The sealer is the second step in this system, and it affects both how the color looks and how long it lasts. Your Trial System includes your choice of sealer so your test reflects exactly what your finished project will look like. We offer three options:

• EasySeal™ (solvent-based) — Penetrates deeply and dramatically enriches the Portico™ color, producing the deepest, most saturated final result. Important: EasySeal™ has strong solvent fumes and requires excellent ventilation and strict solvent safety precautions during application. Best choice if color depth is your priority.
• AcquaSeal™ (water-based) — A low-odor, water-based option that's easy to apply and comfortable to work with. Color richness will be somewhat less intense than EasySeal™, but still a beautiful result for many applications.
• HydraCryl™ (water-based hybrid) — Our highest-performance sealer. HydraCryl™ delivers protection comparable to a polyurethane sealer without the complexity of a two-component system, and it's water-based. The best of both worlds: the durability of a hard-film sealer with the ease and low odor of a water-based product.

Not sure which to choose? If maximum color depth is your goal, start with EasySeal™. If you want high durability with easier application, HydraCryl™ is the right pick. AcquaSeal™ is a solid choice for lower-traffic areas where ease of application is a priority.

How to Use the Trial System

1. Pick your test area carefully. Choose an inconspicuous section of your actual paver surface — an area that will be covered by furniture or a planter, a back edge near a wall or fence, or a paver from the same batch. Test on the actual surface you plan to stain, not on a different material. Pavers vary from batch to batch, and a color that looks great on one surface may look different on yours.
2. Clean and prep the test area the same way you'd prep your finished project — degrease and rinse thoroughly. Remove any existing sealer, coating, or efflorescence before testing; Portico™ cannot penetrate a sealed or coated surface.
3. Mark out 3 test sections, one per color. Label them so you remember which is which.
4. Apply each Portico™ sample with a separate foam brush — 2 brushes per color (one to apply, one for touch-ups). Never reuse a brush across colors — even small amounts of cross-contamination will affect the result.
5. Allow the stain to dry for at least 8 hours. The solvent carrier needs time to fully evaporate before sealer is applied, even on small test patches. Shortening this step will produce a result that doesn't match what you'd get on the full project.
6. Apply your included sealer over each dry test section. This is not optional — unsealed Portico™ will wash off. The sealer is also part of the final appearance, not just a protective coat. What you see after sealing is your true finished result.
7. Allow to cure for 24–48 hours to see the final cured color and sheen.
8. Compare the results and pick your color and sealer. Once you've chosen, order the full-size Portico™ system that matches your project size.

⚠ Safety

Portico™ is solvent-based. Apply in a well-ventilated area, wear chemical-resistant gloves and safety glasses, and keep away from ignition sources during application and while the solvent is evaporating. If you selected EasySeal™ as your sealer, the same solvent safety precautions apply for that step as well.

Direct Colors: Made in the USA Since 1997

The Portico™ Trial System contains the exact same Portico™ formulation as the full-size kits — just in sample quantities. What you see in the trial is what you'll get on the full project.