Semigloss, definitely. Even high gloss. I had flat painted on the exterior and it has not held up well at all. I'm needing to repaint in 2 years. I'm going with high gloss alkyd paint from Fine Paints of Europe which I expect to hold up for many years.

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Hi Funcolors, I enjoy reading your very informative posts. I need your advice please. I am in total agreement about glossiness accentuating imperfections but here is my dilema. I want my exterior paint job to hold up as long as possible and people keep telling me semi gloss and high gloss will hold up longer then flatter finish, AND will not stay so glossy for long so could it be if we sacrifice seeing the imperfections then later on we will graduate to a satin in time and get far more longevity as well?

I saw a man's house done with a fancy european paint in red with green trim, high gloss, not everyone's cup of tea, but for his house it was stunning! He says he paints every year to keep up the gloss as it does diminish. As you say every flaw sticks out but all in all with his architecture and plantings it is lovely. I on the other hand have a colonial revival 1910 house not all that old and want a slightly off white base coat with bright white trim. I live in CT zone 6, everyone here is advocating SW duration for longevity. My painter says it will cost a lot more money for the application of an oil primer rather then these self priming paints. I am willing to spend more if I get more time with the paint job and am seeking your experience for longest lasting exterior with best color to go along with this criteria.

Do you also have a good blue color for porch ceiling?

Thanks so much for all your input!

Satin for outside applications is what we use. However, the ceiling porch is prefab and came painted already.

hchristie, we just painted our porch ceiling SW's "Atmospheric." We wanted a pale blue. We posted a couple of pictures on the Home Photo galleries if you want to see.

I painted our trim in a semi-gloss just two years ago and it is not holding up, good paint and good prep - we have very hot sun here though, I am switching to either satin or flat - I have used flat for trim on other houses and it held up much better.

Someone in my neighborhood has a restored home with a blue beadboard ceiling on their porch which I can just barely see from the road and it looks so beautiful and it isn't light but not dark either - reminds me of the sky - so relaxing looking. It looks like a semi gloss or gloss to me - I will have to go take a closer look. Their roof is a dark green and the trim I think too and the walls are lighter but can't remember what color - I just remember the blue porch ceiling.

After looking at the picture of your house, I don't think semi gloss would look good with your style of house with the wood shingle siding or with the white columns. I think semi gloss would make the ceiling stand out more than anything else. I like the subtle look of the flat.

I was told to use a oil based primer, and could put a bathroom paint from Sherwin Williams over the beadboard in my remodeled bathroom. I am currently in the process of painting it with a 1 1/2 brush - since I am an older individual and larger brushes are too big for me. Could I use a roller for the final coat?

Not flat!