Town of Southampton
Cedar Shake & Shingle Roofing in Water Mill, NY
A cedar shake or shingle roof in Water Mill runs about $900–1,620 per square on Long Island in 2026, $1,600–2,800 for premium hand-split shake, and should last 20–40 years with an annual inspection, cleaning every 3–5 years and re-treatment every 5–7. We match Water Mill homeowners with a licensed roofer who specifies breathable underlayment, stainless fasteners and copper or stainless flashing as standard.
Last updated · Reviewed by Sag Harbor Roofing Co.
Cedar is the roof Water Mill was built with, and it is still the right roof for much of it, as long as the spec and the maintenance match the exposure. We match Water Mill homeowners with a licensed, insured roofer who installs cedar the right way: breathable underlayment, stainless fasteners, copper or stainless flashing.
Cedar shake in Water Mill: what's different here
In Water Mill cedar behaves very differently by lot. In the shade of the wooded inland streets it holds moss and needs regular cleaning to reach its 30–40 years; on the ocean and pond side it needs wind fastening and salt-resistant metal. The roofer should ask where the house is before quoting the spec.
Water Mill has a large stock of 1990s–2010s houses reaching their first full re-roof, most of them cedar or architectural asphalt. Permits are issued by the Town of Southampton Building Division. A re-roof that does not open the sheathing often does not need one, but confirm before starting.
Permits in Water Mill run through the Town of Southampton Building Division; the roofer we match you with handles the filing where one is required.
How matching works
Tell us about the job once. We match you with one licensed, insured roofer who works Water Mill regularly — not a list of strangers — and they contact you within 1 business day. No bidding war, no spam calls.
FAQ
Cedar shake 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 →Services
More in Water Mill
Roof Repair in Water Mill
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 in Water Mill
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) in Water Mill
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 in Water Mill
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 in Water Mill
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 in Water Mill
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.
Get matched in Water Mill
Sixty seconds. One licensed, insured roofer who works your town calls you within one business day. Free for homeowners; nobody else gets your number.