DLM Remodeling

Massachusetts requires a building permit for siding replacement, reviewed by the Melrose building department, with a final inspection after the work. Pre-1978 homes — essentially all of the Victorian and Colonial Revival stock — fall under the EPA RRP lead rule and require a lead-certified crew for any disturbance of old paint, which is a near-universal consideration here given the age of the housing. Older homes can carry asbestos-cement shingle siding from a previous re-side, which a licensed abatement contractor must remove before new siding goes on. On the city's tight lots, crews also plan staging and scaffolding to respect close-set property lines.

Melrose costs sit in the typical inner-suburb range, with older-home complexity nudging some jobs higher. A standard vinyl re-side runs roughly $13,000–$25,000, and insulated vinyl $17,000–$29,000, though many homeowners avoid vinyl on ornate Victorians. Fiber-cement (HardiePlank) typically lands $22,000–$46,000 installed depending on size and trim. Matched clapboard or cedar shingle on a detailed Victorian runs higher, generally $30,000–$58,000 once custom trim and brackets are factored in. Lead-safe handling — nearly always required here — and any asbestos-shingle abatement add to all of these.

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

More on permits, costs, rebates and common questions, plus every other siding contractor serving the town, on the Siding in Melrose page.