I'd appreciate advice on a roofing situation. Several years ago, we bought a new house. We hired an inspector who has a multitude of certifications in various trades, and he declared the house to be just about perfect. In fact, we've had to spend $$$ on numerous repairs (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, windows, etc.) Due to both the house's size and (we later learned) the methods of the builder, it was under construction for two years, so I'm guessing that the roof is about 5 yrs. old. We replaced a gas fp vent with one designed for high wind areas, patched the roof in several locations (one area about 5' X 15' had no tar paper over the plywood), installed metal mesh over places where squirrels and chipmunks had chewed their way into the attic, etc. Despite all our efforts, we still have a problem with both critters (caught another red squirrel last night) and a small leak when it's windy during storms (which is often.) The shingles look bad, on the south/east sides especially, and a couple of handymen have suggested that we ought to reroof soon (not that I'll hire them.) I want to find someone certified by the roofing material manufacturer who knows how to do a proper installation and won't argue about following the instructions because they've "always" taken some shortcut method.

The circumstances that prompted the house purchase changed greatly, but due to the economy we don't expect to downsize unless dh gets a job offer that includes a relocation package. It looks as if we'll be here a while. Dh is due to receive some deferred compensation in a few months, and we're thinking seriously about using it to reroof the house.

I think there's a good chance we'll need to replace the plywood on about half of the roof, so will want to try to time the job for an extended dry spell. I thought we'd install Grace Ice & Water Shield over the entire roof, but have read that Grace Ultra is better for high temperatures. We're in the south, at an elevation of about 1200 ft., exposed to frequent high winds (gusts > 90 mph), wind driven rains and the occasional tornado. While we do get ice and snow most winters, our greater concern is months of highs in the 90s combined with fierce storms. The roof is steeply pitched and has numerous angles.

We also have a lot of wildlife here. I don't mind the deer (even though they ate all of my roses this year), hedgehogs, foxes, and coyotes, but I detest the tree rats (squirrels) and chipmunks that persist in coming into my attic. In addition to using the Grace Ultra over the entire roof, what should we do to protect areas such as roof penetrations for vents & chimneys as well as the edges where critters may continue trying to get into the attic? Is there a steel screen product that can be attached over the Grace Ultra and maybe wrapped around the perimeter of the entire roof?

Also, please make suggestions about roofing materials. I thought we'd just go with standard architectural shingles, but have read about CertainTeed's Landmark Solaris that looks like it combines (limited) solar reflective properties with reasonable wind resistance. Does anyone have experience with that product, or with something similar?

If we could get ARC okay, would it make sense to look into metal roofing? Dh likes the idea, but is concerned about the roof quickly looking pock marked after storms. Are metal shingles better for high wind areas? Or is there another option to consider?

Sorry for the length, but I want to try to get this right. I'm guessing that the job will entail over 80 squares, so it's a significant expense. My 9 yr. old minivan may have to last another year or two, but the peace of mind of a leak-and-pest free attic would be worth it.