Permit
A permit from Merrimac
The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. Merrimac’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Roof Replacement in Merrimac, MA
Merrimac has 2,899 homes, and half of them were standing by 1982. The rules below decide how much of the old roof has to come off and what goes under the new one.
New Roofing Costs connects homeowners with independent local roofing contractors. We do not perform roofing work.
Call (833) 781-1806 Replacement and new roofs only · homeowners
This number connects homeowners who are planning a new roof or a full roof replacement with independent local roofing contractors. It is not for leak repairs or patch jobs. The call must come from the homeowner who decides on the roof. Calls may be recorded.
The rules for a reroof in Merrimac
Layers
No third layer
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). 47% of Merrimac’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Source: IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes); 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 9 amendments
Ice barrier
Required in Merrimac, as in every Massachusetts town
The state’s climate table marks the ice barrier “yes” statewide. It runs from the eave to 24 inches inside the exterior wall, more on steep roofs (IRC R905.1.2); check that the quote lists it.
Source: 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 3 amendments (Tables R301.2(1) and R301.2(2)); IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes)
Wind and snow
116 mph design wind, 50 psf ground snow
Merrimac’s code design values are a 116 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 50 psf ground snow load (30 psf minimum flat-roof snow load). At that wind speed the code calls for asphalt shingles labeled ASTM D7158 Class D, G or H (Table R905.2.4.1).
Source: 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 3 amendments (Tables R301.2(1) and R301.2(2)); IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes) (780 CMR 51.00, Table R301.2(2))
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Code edition, permit and contract rules for the whole state: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Merrimac
Of 2,815 occupied homes in Merrimac, 2,288 (81%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 20% before 1940, 33% before 1960, 47% before 1980; 23% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 62% detached houses, 11% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 11% buildings of two to four units, 7% manufactured homes.
Of the 34 Essex County municipalities on this site, Merrimac has the 32nd largest share of homes built before 1980: 47%, against a county range of 41% to 89%.
ZIP codes: 01860
Merrimac and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimac | 1982 | 47% | 81% | 11% | 20 |
| Amesbury | 1969 | 67% | 69% | 11% | 17 |
| West Newbury | 1983 | 46% | 96% | 6% | 15 |
| Haverhill | 1964 | 63% | 63% | 10% | 17 |
| Groveland | 1983 | 47% | 90% | 8% | 11 |
| Newburyport | 1954 | 70% | 78% | 15% | 13 |
Median built: median year the homes were built. Before 1980: share of homes built then. Owners: share of homes that are owner-occupied. Row, twin: share of homes that are rowhouses, twins or townhouses. Census ACS 2020–2024. Hail days: days with hail of 1 inch or larger within 10 miles, 2006–2025, NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Storm record around Merrimac
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 20 separate days within 10 miles of Merrimac; the largest was 2 in on July 11, 2006. The most recent was May 3, 2025.
That is more hail days than 99% of the places in the state on this site.
Federal major-disaster declarations for storms in Essex County since 2006: 9, most recently DR-4379, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, declared July 2018. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Merrimac, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
HUD’s useful-life figures are for planning; a warranty is a separate promise. For Merrimac’s houses: More in the guides to shingles, metal, slate and flat roofs.
| Material | HUD useful life | Fits a house like | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | 20 years | Most pitched roofs; 62% of homes here are detached | Class D, G or H at 116 mph design wind (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Low pitches and long runs | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 20% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
For an owner-occupied home of one to four units in Merrimac, the contractor must be registered under the home improvement law (M.G.L. c. 142A), and a construction supervisor licensed (CSL) for roof covering supervises a permitted reroof. Ask for both numbers.
The price side is in what a new roof costs in Massachusetts; the paperwork side in checking a roofing contractor.
Questions about a new roof in Merrimac
Is a permit required for a new roof in Merrimac, MA?
A permit from Merrimac. The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. Merrimac’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Merrimac?
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). 47% of Merrimac’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Merrimac?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Merrimac was built in 1982, 47% of homes were built before 1980, 81% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Merrimac had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 20 days within 10 miles of Merrimac from 2006 through 2025 (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). A report means hail fell nearby, not that a roof was damaged.
How do I check a roofing contractor in Merrimac?
For an owner-occupied home of one to four units in Merrimac, the contractor must be registered under the home improvement law (M.G.L. c. 142A), and a construction supervisor licensed (CSL) for roof covering supervises a permitted reroof. Ask for both numbers.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Merrimac, or at least the ZIP code
- One story or two (or more), detached or attached
- What is on the roof now (asphalt shingles, metal, slate, tile, or a flat membrane) and roughly how old it is
- Whether there is one layer or more, if you know
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Merrimac
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.