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Does anyone know if skylights are a part of the roof or are they considered windows?

The management company that manages our condo wants to replace the roof on the four units where I live. The said many different reasons why they want to change the skylights two of them are 1. flashing not available in right size 2. contractor won't insure roof. My husband talked to the contractor and they said they gave prices on doing the roof with and without replacement of the skylights and they would rather not replace them. The skylights were put in by the builder in 1988. I am wondering if skylights are considered windows or are they a part of the roof. My management company is telling me that the skylights are considered windows and I am responsible for them. In the by laws, nothing is mentioned about the skylights and the roofs are supposed to be replaced free with our monthly fee of $350. The by laws do say that the windows are my responsibility and honestly I would rather replace the windows then the skylights. Another owner of a condo where I live had her skylight replaced and it leaked afterwards which makes me worry. The management company has done things wrong many times but I am told they are like God or the President and I have no say. I can't believe I own a condo and I have to get my great quality skylights replaced by probably a contractor who doesn't even insure the breakage of anything in my condo. . We have really good skylights manufactured by a company that is called the Pella of the Midwest. I have tried my best to advise the mgm. co. and the board of directors that I do not want new skylights as the ones we have are just fine. I just received a letter telling me that the contractor wants to enter our condos and put down tarp for up to 7 days while they are replace the skylights and the roof. I am terribly worried that they are putting cheap skylights in place of the ones we have. It seems like our mgm. co. tends to do things that are not needed and skip over what is needed. If anyone has any advise or can help me in anyway, please contact me. The mgm. co. wants me to pay $450 per skylight and I have 7 of them.. In the by laws it says I am responsible for the windows and the management company wants to call the skylights windows but I do not agree and if anyone knows, please advise. If anyone knows anything about this or anything that would help me deal with the mgm. company, please advise. The Pres. of our Board won't take phone calls and I am homebound right now. I would be greatly appreciative of an answer. Thank you.

Public Comments

1. Pella are top quality and if there is no problem, I wouldn't replace them. But if you have no choice- you have no choice. That's why I own my own home without restrictions.


2. If the skylights are your responsibility, then you have the right to say if the existing ones stay or not. Likewise the roofing contractor has a responsibility to provide a rain tight seal around all roofing penetrations be it a chimney, plumbing vent or skylight.


3. Skylights are indeed considered window units, because they provide the same function as windows set in the wall, namely providing illumination to the interior of your condo. That being said, I agree with Oil field's statement. If your skylights are are in good condition, a good contractor can work around them, just as the contractor indicated to your husband. Unless there is some ironclad provision within your bylaws that mandate that the management co has the final say so on whether or not the skylights get replaced, keep at the co. and the board of directors and maybe try to get in touch with your local housing authority for possibly their ruling on this matter. ( If they have the authority to do so. They do in most localities that I know of) Be sure to make copies of any and all correspondence that you have regarding this matter. Best of luck to you!