Siding in West Tisbury, Massachusetts

West Tisbury is in Eversource territory, so homeowners qualify for the full Mass Save program. That's worth saying because the Vineyard's electric rates are among the highest in the state, which makes the rebated envelope work behind new siding unusually high-value here.

The siding isn't rebated, but a re-side opens the walls — the cheapest moment to air-seal, insulate, and (on some 1980s builds) add continuous insulation outside the sheathing. Mass Save typically covers weatherization at 75% or more after a free Home Energy Assessment, and the 0% HEAT Loan can finance qualifying envelope work. With island electric heating cost what it is, the payback math is strong.

West Tisbury requires a building permit for residential re-siding through the town Building Department, and a reputable contractor pulls it. Most of the town falls under the jurisdiction of the Martha's Vineyard Commission for projects of regional impact, and many areas are within Wetlands Protection Act jurisdiction, so Conservation Commission review for exterior work is common — especially on coastal or pond-edge lots. The town's strong design culture means visible exterior changes (a swap away from natural cedar, for example) can also catch local scrutiny. Lead RRP applies to anything pre-1978.

Re-siding on Martha's Vineyard runs noticeably more than the state average. Ferry-based material logistics, island labor rates, and the cedar-shingle standard all push the numbers up. Natural cedar shingle — the dominant cladding — typically runs $25,000–$60,000 or more depending on grade, exposure, and prep. Fiber-cement is sometimes used on less visible elevations and lands around $20,000–$45,000. Where vinyl is used at all, it runs roughly $14,000–$30,000. Stainless fasteners and salt-grade flashing are non-negotiable and built into competent quotes.

West Tisbury is the geographic center of Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, with about 2,941 year-round residents but roughly 2,465 housing units — a substantial second-home and seasonal share. The town runs from the north-shore Vineyard Sound to the south-shore Atlantic beaches at Long Point, with farms, conservation land, and stone walls in between.

The median home is around 42 years old, the result of the Vineyard building wave from the 1980s and 1990s, but the look is dictated by the island's near-universal preference for natural cedar shingle siding that silvers with salt air. New construction follows the same pattern, so most siding projects here are either re-shingling weathered cedar or restoring the original look on a home that someone briefly clad in something else.