4 WINDS CONSTRUCTION

Edgartown requires a building permit for roof replacement, filed with the town Building Department. State code requires ice-and-water shield at eaves and in valleys; coastal wind exposure pushes most roofers to spec shingles rated 130+ mph with six-nail patterns. The Edgartown Historic District is large and active: any change in roofing material, profile, or color inside the district needs Historic District Commission review before the permit issues. Replacing cedar with asphalt on a captain's house is essentially a non-starter inside the district. Ferry freight and seasonal labor scheduling also affect timelines — non-emergency work books months out.

Roofing on Martha's Vineyard runs well above mainland MA — figure 30–60% more on comparable work — because of ferry freight on materials, the seasonal-labor premium, and historic constraints inside the district. A full asphalt-shingle tear-off and replacement outside the historic district generally runs $12,000–$30,000. Cedar shingles (the typical in-town material) run $30,000–$70,000 on captain's houses. Standing-seam metal runs $28,000–$60,000. Historic-district restoration work on Federals or Greek Revivals carries another premium for board oversight and traditional detailing.

Massachusetts requires a written contract and a Home Improvement Contractor registration for most residential roofing work; ask for the registration number and check it before paying a deposit.

More on permits, costs, rebates and common questions, plus every other roofing contractor serving the town, on the Roofing in Edgartown page.