The Portico™ 2-Step Professional System is the contractor-scale paver stain kit for large jobs: full residential driveways, large patios, commercial hardscape projects, hospitality venues, and any concrete paver project covering up to 1,000 square feet. It includes 5 gallons of Portico™ Paver Stain in your color choice and 5 gallons of matched concrete sealer — the same chemicals as the 200 sq ft kits, scaled up for jobs that need contractor quantities.This is the system Direct Colors recommends for working hardscape contractors, decorative concrete professionals, landscape companies, property management firms, and serious DIYers tackling large-scale paver projects. The 5-gallon container size delivers the lowest per-square-foot cost in the Portico™ lineup and ensures color consistency across the entire job — critical for large paver installations where multiple smaller batches risk visible color variation between sections.

Why Contractors Buy the Professional System

Lowest per-square-foot cost — Buying Portico™ in 5-gallon containers cuts the per-gallon price significantly compared to single-gallon orders.

Color consistency across the entire job — Portico™ pigment can vary slightly from production lot to production lot. A 5-gallon container is one consistent batch, which means a 1,000 sq ft paver driveway stained from one container will have uniform color across the entire surface. Mixing multiple 1-gallon containers risks visible color shift between sections — especially noticeable on long driveways and large patios where the customer sees the whole surface at once.

One delivery, one job — Contractors don't have time to wait on backordered components mid-project. The Professional System ships every chemical needed for a 1,000 sq ft paver stain in one shipment.

The right sealer at the right scale — The sealer is matched to Portico™ and shipped in the same 5-gallon format. No mismatched products, no guessing how much sealer to order.

Why Sealer Is Required Even at Contractor Scale

The 2-step requirement isn't a feature of the small kits — it's a feature of how Portico™ chemistry works. The pigment is bonded to the pavers by the sealer, period. This is true at every scale, from a 200 sq ft DIY project to a 10,000 sq ft commercial paver installation. Skipping or under-applying sealer is the fastest way to turn a beautiful paver job into a callback from an unhappy client three months later when the color starts wearing off.This is why the Professional System ships matched 5-gallon quantities of sealer alongside the Portico™. You're getting the right product, in the right amount, paired to your color choice — no contractor decision-making required.

The 8-Hour Rule Still Applies at Contractor Scale

Portico™ must dry for at least 8 hours after staining and before sealer is applied so the solvent carrier can fully off-gas. This is critical at every scale. On large paver jobs, plan your project schedule with the 8-hour minimum in mind — staining one day, sealing the next morning is the standard contractor approach. In cool or humid weather, allow longer than 8 hours. Sealing too soon causes sealer bonding problems or turns the sealer cloudy white, and the only fix is to strip the failed sealer and start over.

Don't Over-Apply at Scale Either

The "less is more" rule applies at every scale. Even experienced contractors sometimes get pressure from clients who want "more color" and respond by applying multiple heavy coats — which causes the same sealer bonding failures as DIY over-application, just on a much larger and more expensive scale.

One even coat of Portico™, then 8 hours of off-gas time, then sealer.

If a client wants deeper color than a single coat of a particular Portico™ shade delivers, the right answer is to use a darker Portico™ color on the next project — not to keep adding stain to the current one. Apply test patches in inconspicuous areas before committing the full job to a color choice.What This System Does Not IncludeThe Professional System is chemicals only — it does not include application tools, surface prep, or PPE. Most contractors and pros already have:

• Plastic pump sprayers (need at least 2 — one for stain, one for sealer)
• Spiked shoes for walking on wet stain and sealer
• ProClean Degreaser for surface prep
• Destiny™ Stripper for removing existing sealer or coatings (if needed)
• Safety glasses, gloves, and respirator

If you need any of these, they're sold individually:

• ProClean Degreaser™
• Spiked Sandals
• Plastic pump sprayers

Pricing for Larger Projects

Need more than 1,000 sq ft of coverage? Order multiple Professional Systems, or contact Direct Colors for a contractor quote on bulk orders. Direct Colors offers wholesale pricing for working contractors and has been supplying decorative concrete and hardscape pros for over 25 years.

Looking for a Water-Based Contractor-Scale Paver Stain System?

The Portico™ 2-Step Professional System uses solvent-based Portico™ Paver Stain. If your project requires a water-based paver stain — for low-VOC commercial requirements, occupied building applications, HOA or municipal restrictions on solvent products, or environmental compliance — Direct Colors offers the PaveWave™ 2-Step Professional System as the water-based alternative. PaveWave™ uses nano-pigment technology for slightly richer color saturation at a higher price point. Both Professional Systems cover 1,000 sq ft with matched stain + sealer in 5-gallon containers.

Direct Colors: Made in the USA Since 1997

Direct Colors has supplied professional contractors with paver stain in contractor quantities for over 25 years. The Portico™ Professional System uses the same Portico™ and sealer formulations specified by working hardscape contractors on commercial paver projects across the country.

* Customers can choose between a satin or gloss finish for the EasySeal™ or AcquaSeal™ sealer to tailor the final look to their preference.