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

Concrete varies more than most people realize. Concrete age, surface finish, mineral composition, and existing color all affect how an acid stain reacts on your specific surface. EverStain™ works through a chemical reaction with the minerals in your concrete — which means the same color can produce dramatically different results on a smooth-troweled new driveway versus an older, more porous patio, or on a stamped surface versus a broom-finished one. Testing on your actual concrete is the only reliable way to predict your final color.

⚠ Especially Important If Your Concrete Is New

If your concrete was poured in the last several years, testing before you buy full quantities isn't just smart — it's essential.

Modern concrete mixes increasingly rely on additives and supplementary materials such as fly ash, slag, and silica fume to replace a portion of Portland cement, which has become expensive. The problem: acid stain gets its color from a chemical reaction with the minerals naturally present in Portland cement. Less Portland cement means fewer minerals available to react — which means weaker color, patchy results, or in some cases, minimal reaction at all.

There is no way to look at a slab and know how much Portland cement it contains. Your contractor may not know either. The only way to find out how EverStain™ will react with your specific concrete is to test it. A Trial System costs a fraction of full-size product. Discovering a weak reaction after applying stain to your entire patio or driveway is a problem that cannot be easily undone.

Why You Need to Test on Your Actual Concrete

The variables that affect how EverStain™ reacts on your specific surface include:

• Concrete mix composition — Modern mixes often contain fly ash, slag, or other cement substitutes that reduce the mineral content acid stain needs to react with. This is the single most important variable for new concrete.
• Concrete age — Newer concrete generally has more calcium hydroxide available for reaction, but the specific mix design matters as much as age. Do not assume new concrete will react strongly.
• Surface finish — Smooth-troweled, broom-finished, stamped, and textured surfaces all hold and absorb acid stain differently, affecting color depth and mottling
• Porosity — More porous concrete absorbs stain more deeply, intensifying color; denser surfaces produce lighter, more variegated results
• Existing color — Light gray concrete will show a different final tone than darker integrally-colored concrete after the chemical reaction completes
• Prior treatments — Any existing sealer, curing compound, or coating will block the chemical reaction entirely in those areas

Testing 3 EverStain™ colors on your actual concrete shows you exactly what each color will look like after the reaction, neutralization, and sealing process. The Trial System lets you see the final result before you commit to a full project.

Why Testing Saves You Money

A full EverStain™ project involves stain, neutralizer, and sealer — a meaningful investment. If you order full quantities, apply the stain, and discover the color reaction is weaker than expected — or doesn't react at all due to a low-Portland cement mix — you cannot simply recoat or adjust. Acid stain produces a permanent chemical change in the concrete surface, and where little reaction occurs, there is little to build on. The Trial System is the insurance policy against that expensive mistake.

Choosing Your Sealer

The sealer you apply over EverStain™ affects the final color appearance as much as the stain itself. That's why your Trial System includes your choice of sealer — so what you test is exactly what your finished project will look like. We offer three options:

• EasySeal™ (solvent-based) — Penetrates deeply and dramatically enriches the acid stain color, producing the deepest, most saturated 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 easier to apply and more 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. This is 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 concrete — a driveway edge that will be covered by plantings, a hidden corner of a patio, or a piece of scrap concrete from the same pour. Test on the actual surface you plan to stain, not a different slab.
2. Clean and prep the test area the same way you'd prep your finished project — degrease and rinse thoroughly. Remove any existing sealer or coating before testing; EverStain™ cannot penetrate a sealed surface.
3. Mark out 3 test sections. Label them so you remember which color is which.
4. Apply each EverStain™ sample with a separate foam brush. Never reuse a brush across colors — cross-contamination alters the reaction.
5. Allow the stain to react for the recommended dwell time, then neutralize each test section with the included ProClean Neutralizer, rinse thoroughly, and allow to dry completely.
6. Apply your included sealer over the dry, neutralized test areas. This step is essential — unsealed acid stain looks noticeably different than sealed, and this is your true final 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 your full-size EverStain™ Acid Stain.

⚠ Safety

EverStain™ is a reactive acid-based product. Wear chemical-resistant gloves, safety glasses, and protective clothing during application and neutralization. Apply in a well-ventilated area. Keep bystanders and pets away from the work area until the surface has been fully neutralized and rinsed. If you selected EasySeal™, additional solvent safety precautions apply — keep away from ignition sources and ensure adequate ventilation during sealer application.

Direct Colors: Made in the USA Since 1997

The EverStain™ Trial System contains the exact same EverStain™ formulation as the full-size product — just in sample quantities. The chemical reaction you see in the trial is the reaction you'll get on the full project.