the Hamptons
Cedar shake and cedar shingle roofing in the Hamptons
A cedar roof on Long Island runs about $900–1,620 per square installed in 2026, and $1,600–2,800 per square for premium hand-split shakes over a breathable underlayment. Expect 20–40 years of life; the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau puts a well-maintained roof at 30–40 and up to 50, while salt air shortens the life of flashing and gutters before the wood. The maintenance that gets you to the long end is an annual inspection, professional cleaning every 3–5 years and re-treatment every 5–7.
Last updated · Reviewed by Sag Harbor Roofing Co.
Shake or shingle
A shake is split (hand-split or taper-sawn on one face): thick, textured, rustic. A shingle is sawn smooth on both faces: thinner, flatter, more uniform. Most of the Hamptons' traditional roofs are shingles, which read quieter under the village elms; shakes show up on larger, newer houses. Shakes cost more and sit higher in the range.
What's included
Tear-off to the deck, new decking where needed, ice-and-water shield at eaves and valleys, a breathable underlayment or spaced sheathing so the wood can dry from below, stainless steel fasteners, copper or stainless flashing and valleys, the cedar itself (Western Red Cedar, graded), and ridge and hip caps. Treatment (fire retardant, preservative) where specified.
What it costs in the Hamptons (2026)
- General cedar, Long Island: $900–1,620 per square
- Premium hand-split shake with breathable underlayment: $1,600–2,800 per square
- A 30-square Hamptons roof: roughly $27,000–48,600 in the general range, more for premium shake. Sources disagree by about 2× depending on grade and install quality, so treat any single midpoint with suspicion and ask for the spec behind the number.
How long it lasts
20–40 years is the honest range. The Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau cites 30–40 years on average and 30–50 with good maintenance. Pressure-treated cedar lasts longer than untreated, though no source gives a clean number for the difference. By the ocean, the flashing, fasteners and gutters usually need attention before the wood does.
Maintenance that matters
- Annual inspection
- Professional cleaning every 3–5 years (moss, debris, keeping the keyways open)
- Fire-retardant or preservative re-treatment every 5–7 years, sooner on exposed sites
Local considerations
In the Village of East Hampton's historic districts, a new wood-shingle roof is exempt from Design Review Board review, which is one reason cedar stays the default there. In the Sag Harbor historic district a visible material change needs a Certificate of Appropriateness. On oceanfront sites (Montauk, Sagaponack, the ocean lanes), shakes and shingles need proper fastening for wind and will live shorter lives than in the shade of Northwest Woods. Install takes 3–6 days for a typical roof, plus permit lead time.
FAQ
Common questions
How long does a cedar shake roof last in the Hamptons?
Plan on 20–40 years. The Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau puts the average at 30–40 years and a well-maintained roof at up to 50. In the Hamptons the spread is driven by exposure and maintenance: a shaded Northwest Woods roof that is cleaned every 3–5 years and re-treated every 5–7 can reach the long end; an oceanfront roof in Montauk or Sagaponack that never sees a brush will sit at the short end, and its flashing, fasteners and gutters will usually fail before the wood does.
Read the full answer →Cedar shake vs cedar shingle: what's the difference?
A shake is split from the log (hand-split, or taper-sawn on one face), so it is thick, irregular and textured. A shingle is sawn smooth on both faces, so it is thinner, flatter and uniform. Most of the Hamptons' older houses carry shingles, which read quieter; shakes are common on larger, newer houses. Shakes cost more (general cedar runs $900–1,620 per square on Long Island; premium hand-split shake with a breathable underlayment $1,600–2,800) and both last 20–40 years with the same maintenance: clean every 3–5 years, re-treat every 5–7.
Read the full answer →What's the best roof for a beachfront Hamptons home?
There is no single answer, but there is a short list. Standing seam in aluminum or copper handles wind best and shrugs off salt (40–70+ years for aluminum, 70–100+ for copper). Natural slate lasts 75–200 years and resists wind once properly hung, with copper fasteners. Cedar is the traditional choice and works if it is fastened for wind and maintained on schedule, at the short end of its 20–40 years. Architectural and designer asphalt is the budget option, with some designer lines wind-rated to 130 mph. Whatever the covering, the details decide it: full ice-and-water shield, stainless or copper metal.
Read the full answer →How much does a roof replacement cost in East Hampton?
In 2026, a full tear-off and replacement on Long Island runs about $530–795 per square (100 sq ft) for architectural asphalt, $900–1,620 for cedar, $1,050–1,785 for standing seam metal and $1,155–1,890 for synthetic slate; natural slate is $2,000–3,500 per square nationally. A typical 2,500–4,000 sq ft East Hampton roof is 25–40 squares, so asphalt lands around $13,250–31,800 and cedar or metal well above that. East Hampton jobs tend to sit at the top of the ranges because of access, roof complexity and material grade.
Read the full answer →Related
Other services
Roof Repair
Leak tracing, flashing, missing shakes or shingles, and post-storm patches, handled by a local roofer who will tell you honestly when a repair is throwing good money after bad.
Full Roof Replacement
Tear-off to the deck and a new roof system in asphalt, cedar, slate, metal or membrane, priced against published 2026 Long Island ranges so you know what a fair quote looks like.
Re-Roof (Overlay)
A second layer over the existing roof costs 20–40% less than a tear-off but lasts less, and New York code only allows it in specific conditions. We explain both sides before matching you.
New Construction Roofing
Roofing for new builds and major additions, coordinated with the architect and GC: material selection for the site, detailing for wind and salt, and the paperwork that comes with it.
Roof Inspection & Assessment
A documented look at the roof before you buy, sell, renew insurance or head into storm season, with photos and a plain-language verdict on remaining life.
Slate Roofing
Natural slate for estates that will keep it a century, restoration for the old slate roofs in Southampton and Sag Harbor, and synthetic slate for owners who want the look at a third of the price.
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