Portico™ 2-Step Trial System

Portico Paver Stain is formulated using pigments. When sprayed onto a concrete surface, the liquid remains wet for an extended period, allowing pigments to travel and nest into the surface. Since paver stain is a pigment-based colorant, the pigments require sealing to hold them in place.

Portico Paver Stain is typically intended for outdoor surfaces like concrete pavers. In most cases, Portico can also be applied to brushed concrete, extremely porous, or weathered and degraded surfaces due to its heavier pigmentation. If your concrete surface or pavers aren’t very porous, you might consider using Antiquing Stain. Uncertain about how porous the surface is? Consider an Antiquing Stain Trial Kit or Portico Paver Stain Trial Kit to confirm results before purchasing for your entire project.

The good news is that concrete pigments don’t disappear! Assuming your concrete surface is in relatively decent condition and isn’t extremely deteriorated, the pigments you sprayed down are still in place. Once Portico is sprayed on the surface and dries for several hours, the dried pigment only appears faded. When you apply the recommended two thin coats of concrete sealer, the color will “pop” to life, transforming your space! Be mindful of a decision you’ll need to make between solvent-based or water-based sealers. While both are great options, the difference is that solvent-based sealers will “pop” color much more intensely than water-based sealers. Water-based sealers will tend to soften in color as they cure.

It would be unusual if Portico Paver Stain didn’t color your pavers or concrete surface successfully. Remember, this product is made of pigment, and pigments don’t disappear! If Portico didn’t add any color to your concrete, it could potentially be one of two issues: 1. The pigments became trapped or blocked in the sprayer. This can make it seem as if you sprayed liquid with no color. Make sure that you have removed all of the filters on the stain sprayer and that the O-rings are seated correctly in the sprayer head. 2. The concrete that you’re applying Portico to is too damaged. When concrete has significantly deteriorated, the pigments will fall deeper into the concrete surface - causing the color to diminish. This is not a sign of a faulty product, but unfortunately, you may have selected the wrong product for your particular project.

Surface preparation is often the most critical factor in any successful decorative concrete project. In order to achieve the best results, the concrete surface should be free of cure and seal, sealer, paint, dirt, grime, and grease. If the concrete was previously stained and the original sealer has worn away, go ahead and apply Portico over that previous stain. What you would particularly want to avoid is applying Portico over a previously sealed surface. This could cause the still intact sealer to repel the new stain you’ve applied. Scrub the surface using ProClean Degreaser, rinse thoroughly, and allow to dry before applying Portico.

The best application tool is a pump up sprayer for fences and decks. When using a sprayer to apply Portico, don’t forget to remove any filters. These are normally found at the top or bottom of the straw in the canister. If the filter isn’t removed, you would only spray the clear liquid onto your surface - the filter would prevent the pigment from being sprayed out. For closer applications or a slightly different look, use a sponge or foam brush.

Allow the Portico stain to dry and off-gas for 6-8 hours before applying a solvent-based acrylic sealer or water-based sealer.

 We strongly advise against mixing one Portico stain with another. Instead, consider layering separate colors on top of one another to achieve your desired look. We recommend starting with your lightest color of Portico and then building up to a darker color.

Time to settle any confusion once and for all! While these two outdoor concrete stains are quite similar, Antiquing Stain is intended for textured and stamped concrete and Portico stain is intended for flatter, more porous surfaces such as concrete pavers.

Depending on your concrete surface and chosen application methods, coverage rates can vary. We follow industry standards of approximately 200 square feet per gallon, which commonly applies to lower viscosity products like colorants and concrete sealers. First, it’s always good to double-check your calculation of square footage. From there, a few variables come into play. How porous, weathered, or worn is your concrete? How heavily are you applying the product? On smoother, less porous concrete, you may find you’re getting a bit more coverage than anticipated. For stamped, textured, or more weathered, porous concrete, you may get a bit less coverage. These variables aren’t calculation errors, but more of a common indefinite. When in doubt, follow the general construction rule of rounding up for your supply needs.