My specification list from the contractor says "plylap." However, I had a siding contractor come and look at it and he said it wasn't plylap. What should I do next? I can't afford the cost of this repair. Also, it is a Victorian style house so stucco is not an option.

A:You're absolutely correct in assuming the siding shouldn't need replacing in nine years. I would recommend two courses of action. First, get the contractor back and find out what kind of siding it really is. If he can't help, try to find the lumberyard or siding distributor who supplied your builder. Another method is to remove some of the siding and see if the product name or manufacturer is printed on the back side. Last resort, contact one of the above or any reputable siding distributor and see if they have a salesman on the road who can come to your home and identify the product.

The manufacturer should stand behind the product assuming it was installed and maintained properly. This is especially true if it is a manufactured product like PlyLap as opposed to conventional solid wood siding. There also have been many recalls of manufactured products that looked like a good idea but didn't stand the test of time. Once you've identified the manufacturer, you may have to do some letter writing and phone calling but hopefully they can help you out of this problem.

It's hard to know if there is anything that can be done about the contractor (I'm assuming he was the builder). If the information in the brochure was misrepresented you may have some recourse but if he's bankrupt, only a lawyer can advise you. Also, if there was a separate siding contractor involved and the siding was not installed properly, you may be able to get some relief from them.

This information is brought to you by Don Powell of Powell Building Corporation in Mt. Laurel, NJ.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com