’WPC& ‡•kž}®!łwViå„W]fS†yܽ! 濣ŖU²ŖGI̜_Å2«±š¼(Ģ«Søµō‡…­ŹłWqY蕋ÄjbO«³"ž±ģžU#ļ;V—ØŠÄ'e€?F€ 6hQžČÖ“ļ-Õ:kQ~Vū܁Evø¼ś#¶ NæU˜cm|ĀÓ“:<8U’‡J“-×{’¹e|L¶ šAsųļĶŗżīŠ'n0w=Ū‰é&GN;}]­ą¼ 52X«iDn‰“»¬ŲYC„F^§ixš;\“£Ū°ļō5Ź“ ­”|u(Š5ŅąśÕf|ˆUZ.öX „€£8ŅqA°ÖĢQŗĶÜW ŒśUÜ©ń57­ó‰¦č÷žĪ€ŒÄßjEī{0ŒŗŖ7ax¼ŠX»„€|0vBŁ\XśŚD-$KOŅ‚|^|?nžŽXņoV†&aQ‚1mō».‰YbŒ‚…\Ī÷@ć%«t#åu’ēĻR˜|ŅlŌ}7Q0Vqݬ' oŃLŸœs,‹ˆ†Ü^÷»säįW#ÉĀUN‹ %Ł 0:ß U N ^ g ws 4w ‹ š mœ Ō³ 0~‡ 0D bI ¶Q Q Q Q Q Q E B ˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACČČ,,,,ČČ0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ō(ķ€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular7j\1Ļ 6hö0B013C13|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ ŹŻ ƒ Ä($ŻŌUSUS.,Ōą  ąņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ_ŌThe€Ō_ŌSchafersŌ_Ō€had€rented€another€place€to€live€during€the€renovations.(.(3Ä($¤¤Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  Żą  ąņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó(#Ć$ņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó- ł- Goldin COAmeruit P.J. W.S. SiskWellfordSchafersGatlinThrelkeldwaterproofer gluSchafer MMRHuddlestonSalleyPickneyT]hereWilhiteJesseehad hadHighersVaccaro dŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ‡XĪGXXXŌŌ‡¼˜i»XXĪGŌŃ  ŃŃ€ŃŃ8€~–XXdédČ8ŃŃ  Ńą@ņ ņ ģąŌ#†XĪGX»¼˜i\#ŌŌ‡ī|öīXXĪGŌIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆŠ ° Šą@ņņ%ģąAT€JACKSONŌ#†XĪGXīī|ö#ŌŌ‡¼˜i»XXĪGԈŠ Ó# ŠÓ  ÓAssigned€on€Briefs€June€24,€2004Š öF ŠŌ#†XĪGX»¼˜iØ#ŌŌ‡¼˜i»XXĪGŌĢņ ņŌ#†XĪGX»¼˜iA#ŌŌ‡¼˜i»XXĪGŌVACCARO€CONSTRUCTION€CO.,€INC.€v.€LOUIS€L.€SCHAFER€ņņandóó€C.Š  f ŠMARIE€SCHAFERŌ#†XĪGX»¼˜i‡#ŌŌ‡¼˜i»XXĪGŌó óŠ ' w ŠĢą@@½½ģąņ ņAn€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Shelby€CountyŠ H ˜ Šą@@ųųģąNo.€98„0133„2€€€€€€Arnold€Goldin,€Chancellor€Š Y © ŠĢĢą@@ģģ*ģąßA€V) °°` d€÷E<‹` Aߊ ŒÜ  ŠĢą@@TTģąNo.€W2003„02515„COA„R3„CV€Ō_Ō„€Filed€October€28,€2004Ō_ŌŠ ¬ü  ŠĢßA€V) °°` dE<Ķ` Aߊ Ī Šó óŌ#†¼)ų»»¼˜i=#ŌŌ#†X~–X»¼)ų*#ŌĢÓ  ÓThis€is€a€construction€case.€€The€defendant€homeowners€had€an€oral€contract€with€the€plaintiffŠ Ę Šcontractor€to€perform€renovations€on€their€home.€€After€problems€with€the€renovations€arose,Š Æ’ Šincluding€flooding€of€the€home€after€a€rainstorm,€the€homeowners€terminated€the€contractor.€€TheŠ ˜č Šcontractor€filed€a€claim€seeking€enforcement€of€a€lien€on€the€improved€property€or€payment€for€theŠ Ń Šwork€done€on€theories€of€breach€of€contract,€quantum€meruit,€and€unjust€enrichment.€€TheŠ jŗ Šhomeowners€counter„claimed€that€the€contractor€owed€them€for€the€cost€of€repairing€the€contractorššsŠ S£ Šdefective€work.€€After€a€bench€trial,€the€trial€court€found€that€the€contractorššs€work€fell€well€belowŠ <Œ Šthe€applicable€standard€and€awarded€the€homeowners€damages€for€the€repair€of€the€contractorššsŠ %u Šdefective€work.€€We€affirm.Š ^ ŠĢą@śśģąņ ņTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€is€affirmedó óˆŠ ą0 ŠĢņņHolly€M.€Kirby,€J.,óó€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€ņņW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.,óóŠ ³ Šand€ņņAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó,€joined.Š œ ģ ŠĢJames€Stephen€King,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€Vaccaro€Construction€Co.,€Inc.Š n"¾  ŠĢShea€Sisk€Wellford,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellees,€Louis€L.€Schafer€and€C.€Marie€Schafer.Š @$" ŠĢą@55'ģąņ ņņņOPINIONóóó óˆŠ &b!$ ŠĢą  ąIn€1997,€Defendants/Appellees€Louis€and€Marie€Schafer€(š šthe€Schafersšš)€sought€a€contractorŠ å'5#& Što€do€extensive€renovations€on€their€home.€€They€hired€Plaintiff/Appellant€Vaccaro€ConstructionŠ Ī($' ŠCo.,€Inc.€(š šVaccarošš),€whose€president€is€Tony€Vaccaro€(š šMr.€Vaccarošš),€a€licensed€contractor.€€InŠ ·)%( Šlate€spring€or€early€summer€1997,€Vaccaro€gave€the€Schafers€a€fixed„price€proposal€to€do€theŠ  *š%) Šrenovations€they€wanted.€€The€price€exceeded€the€Schafersšš€budget.€€Vaccaro€and€the€Schafers€thenŠ ‰+Ł&* Šreached€an€oral€agreement€whereby€Vaccaro€agreed€to€do€the€renovations€on€its€cost€plus€an€agreed„Š r,Ā'+ Šupon€percentage€for€profit,€and€Mr.€Schafer,€who€had€done€some€construction€in€the€past,€would€doŠ [-«(,’ Šsome€of€the€renovations€himself.€€Vaccaro€was€to€provide€the€Schafers€with€a€detailed€breakdownŠ ° Šof€its€costs,€overhead€and€profit.€€The€parties€had€no€written€agreement.€€Vaccaro€began€work€on€theŠ ™é ŠSchafersšš€home€in€late€June€1997.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢą  ąVaccaro€commenced€renovations€on€several€areas€of€the€Schafersšš€home.€€Vaccaroššs€crewŠ T¤ Šwas€supervised€by€Dale€Gatlin,€the€crew€foreman.€€Mr.€Vaccaro€was€seldom€present€on€the€job.€€AsŠ =  Šthe€work€progressed,€Mr.€Schafer€expressed€increasing€concern€about€various€aspects€of€VaccaroššsŠ & v Šwork,€including€undersized€headers€and€liners€on€the€third€floor,€a€third€floor€deck€which€sloped€inŠ  _ Šthe€wrong€direction,€walls€out€of€plumb,€and€difficulties€in€cutting€rafters€to€match€the€existing€roofŠ ų H Šline.€€The€Schafers€had€concerns€about€other€issues€as€well.€€In€one€incident,€Vaccaro€rented€aŠ į 1  Šbackhoe,€used€it€for€a€short€time,€and€then€let€it€sit€nearly€a€full€day€before€returning€it,€therebyŠ Ź   Šincurring€needless€rental€costs.€€In€other€incidents,€Vaccaroššs€crew€borrowed€Mr.€Schaferššs€trailerŠ ³  Šand€negligently€damaged€it,€and€accidentally€cut€buried€electrical€cables€because€they€failed€to€notifyŠ œģ  Šthe€utility€company€they€would€be€digging.Š …Õ  ŠĢą  ąThe€final€incident€occurred€the€night€of€August€8,€1997.€€Mrs.€Schafer€was€in€town,׃ ׯ ƒ#ĆŻņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀but€herŠ W§  Šhusband€was€out€of€town.€€A€heavy€rain€fell€that€night€and€water€rained€into€the€house€from€variousŠ @ Šplaces€where€Vaccaro€had€begun€the€renovations.€€Most€of€the€Schafersšš€home€was€essentiallyŠ )y Šflooded,€with€water€coming€in€the€upstairs€skylight,€openings€in€the€roof€and€through€light€fixturesŠ b Šand€electrical€outlets.€€When€Mr.€Schafer€returned€from€out€of€town€and€saw€the€water€damage,€heŠ ūK Štelephoned€Mr.€Vaccaro€and€terminated€Vaccaroššs€services.Š ä4 ŠĢą  ąThe€Schafers€then€employed€a€general€contracting€company,€MMR€Group,€which€was€ownedŠ ¶ Šand€operated€by€Dan€Cline€and€Barry€Cummings.€€MMR€Group€was€hired€to€remedy€the€waterŠ Ÿļ Šdamage€caused€by€the€flooding,€rectify€Vaccaroššs€defective€work,€and€also€to€finish€the€renovations.Š ˆŲ ŠĢą  ąWithin€ten€days€after€the€flooding€incident,€Vaccaro€sent€the€Schafers€an€invoice€forŠ ZŖ Š$31,965.39€for€Vaccaroššs€work.€€A€second€invoice€for€$1,316.06€was€sent€later.€€The€Schafers€paidŠ C“ ŠVaccaro€$20,000.Š ,| ŠĢą  ąOn€February€12,€1998,€Vaccaro€filed€the€instant€lawsuit€against€the€Schafers,€alleging€thatŠ žN Šthe€Schafers€owed€Vaccaro€the€remaining€$13,282.45€which€was€invoiced€to€the€Schafers€but€notŠ ē 7 Špaid.€€The€Schafers€responded€with€a€counterclaim,€seeking€damages€for€the€cost€of€rectifyingŠ Š!   ŠVaccaroššs€defective€work€and€for€remedying€problems€caused€by€Vaccaro,€including€the€waterŠ ¹" ! Šdamage€from€the€August€8,€1997€flooding.€€A€bench€trial€was€held€on€August€25,€2003.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢą  ąAt€trial,€Mr.€Vaccaro€testified€on€behalf€of€Vaccaro.€€In€response,€both€Mr.€and€Mrs.€SchaferŠ t%Ä $ Štestified,€as€well€as€Dan€Cline€and€Barry€Cummings,€both€owners€of€MMR€Group,€and€RichardŠ ]&­!% ŠThrelkeld,€a€framing€contractor€employed€by€MMR€Group€to€work€on€the€Schafersšš€home.Š F'–"& Šā āŠ /(#' Šą  ąMr.€Vaccaro€testified€that€when€he€began€work€on€the€Schafersšš€home,€he€was€working€onŠ ° Šā āother€projects€as€well.€€Mr.€Vaccaro€described€generally€the€renovations€that€were€to€be€done,€fromŠ ™é Šthe€original€plans€and€drawings.€€Mr.€Vaccaro€said€that,€up€to€the€date€he€was€terminated,€he€builtŠ ‚Ņ Šin€accordance€with€the€plans.€€He€noted€that€one€of€the€Schafers€was€at€the€job€site€nearly€every€day,Š k» Šand€that€Mr.€Schafer€pulled€the€building€permit€on€the€job.€€Mr.€Vaccaro€asserted€that€the€originalŠ T¤ Šconstruction€on€the€Schafersšš€home€was€poorly€done,€and€that€this€created€problems€for€him€in€doingŠ =  Šthe€renovations.Š & v ŠĢą  ąMr.€Vaccaro€was€asked€on€direct€examination€about€various€problems€with€the€constructionŠ ų H Šthat€had€been€identified€in€the€Schafersšš€discovery€responses.€€As€to€a€joist€in€the€dining€room€thatŠ į 1  Šwas€purportedly€running€in€the€wrong€direction,€Mr.€Vaccaro€said€the€joists€were€running€in€aŠ Ź   Šš šcertainšš€direction,€and€if€one€joist€was€not€running€in€the€correct€direction,€it€š šwas€probably€usedŠ ³  Šfor€bracing€purposes.šš€€Mr.€Vaccaro€acknowledged€that€the€liners€on€the€windows€in€the€study€areaŠ œģ  Šwere€š šincorrectšš€and€implied€that€this€was€due€to€a€change€in€the€š šcode.šš€€He€asserted€that€requiredŠ …Õ  Šearthquake€straps€were€on€the€job€site€but€had€not€yet€been€installed.€€In€response€to€the€assertionŠ n¾  Šthat€the€garage€door€header€was€incorrect€in€that€it€had€š štwo€by€twelves€instead€of€a€beam,šš€Mr.Š W§  ŠVaccaro€said€to€his€knowledge€this€was€not€a€violation€of€the€code,€but€indicated€that€š šjustšš€theŠ @ Šheaders€were€š šwrong.ššŠ )y ŠĢą  ąMr.€Vaccaro€was€asked€about€the€slope€on€the€deck€causing€water€to€flow€toward€the€houseŠ ūK Šinstead€of€away€from€the€house.€€He€said€that€they€š šwere€calling€out€a€waterprooferšš€to€address€it,Š ä4 Šbut€the€waterproofer€had€not€yet€arrived€as€of€the€date€he€was€terminated.€€When€asked€about€theŠ Ķ ŠSchafersšš€assertion€that€š šthe€workshop€and€exterior€band€on€the€tin€band€was€incorrectly€appliedŠ ¶ Šcausing€the€deck€to€bow€up,šš€Mr.€Vaccaro€responded€that€he€was€unsure€about€it.€€When€questionedŠ Ÿļ Šabout€whether€window€heights€were€set€wrong,€Mr.€Vaccaro€replied€that€he€was€š šnot€aware€of€that,Š ˆŲ Šbut€the€windows€had€to€be€tore€out€anyway€because€of€the€liner€situationšš€that€he€had€previouslyŠ qĮ Šadmitted.€€Mr.€Vaccaro€was€asked€about€the€Schafersšš€allegation€that€in€the€office€and€masterŠ ZŖ Šbedroom€the€roof€was€framed€incorrectly€and€the€pitch€of€the€roof€was€different€on€all€four€sides.€Š C“ ŠHis€response€was€that€the€room€size€was€enlarged€š šwhich€threw€everything€off€just€a€little€bit.šš€€Mr.Š ,| ŠVaccaro€was€unsure€about€an€allegation€that€a€beam€was€improperly€notched,€saying€that€the€beamŠ e Šš šwas€probably€notched€for€a€reason.ššŠ žN ŠĢą  ąMr.€Vaccaro€also€testified€about€the€incident€which€finally€led€to€his€termination,€in€hisŠ Š!   Šwords,€š šthe€day€that€this€supposed€monsoon€rain€hit.€.€.€.šš€€Mr.€Vaccaro€said€that€prior€to€the€rain,Š ¹" ! Šhe€had€had€discussions€with€the€Schafers€in€which€he€š šhad€offered€to€dry€the€house€inšš€and€keepŠ ¢#ņ" Šwater€out€by€using€felt€and€cheap€shingles€until€the€roof€was€completed,€but€that€the€Schafers€didŠ ‹$Ū# Šnot€want€that€expense.€€At€the€time€the€rain€came,€Mr.€Vaccaro€said,€they€had€put€up€new€boards€andŠ t%Ä $ Šjoists,€and€plywood€with€roof€felt€over€it.€€He€testified:Š ]&­!% ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąAnd€I€know€we€put€something€over€it€because€we€wouldnššt€just€let€itŠ /(#' Šleak,€but€what€I€donššt€recall.€€I€think€it€was€probably€just€felt€actually,Š )h$( Šbut€it€wasnššt€a€hole.€.€.€.Š*Q%)` x` x Šą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą ø ąI€think€we€had€plastic€over€it,€too.€€Iššm€not€really€sure.Šź*:&*` x` x ŠŠ Ó+#'+ ŠMr.€Vaccaro€acknowledged€that€he€did€not€go€to€the€Schafersšš€house€the€day€of€the€rain,€or€the€dayŠ ° Šafter.Š ™é ŠĢą  ąOn€cross„examination,€Mr.€Vaccaro€admitted€that€he€was€not€present€during€the€SchafersššŠ k» Šrenovations€as€he€normally€had€been€on€past€projects.€€He€acknowledged€that€the€construction€wasŠ T¤ Šnot€š šup€to€my€standard.šš€€Mr.€Vaccaro€explained€this€by€asserting€that€he€š šwas€told€that€Mr.€SchaferŠ =  Šwas€going€to€be€the€supervisor€on€the€project.€€He€pulled€the€permit.€€He€was€the€general€contractorŠ & v Šof€record€for€the€project.€€And€.€.€.€he€wanted€to€save€money€on€the€supervision.šš€€Mr.€VaccaroŠ  _ Šcomplained€repeatedly€that€he€was€not€given€the€opportunity€to€fix€problems€and€correct€defectiveŠ ų H Šwork.€€Vaccaro€presented€no€other€witness.Š į 1  ŠĢą  ąMr.€Schafer€testified€on€his€own€behalf,€outlining€the€numerous€problems€with€VaccaroššsŠ ³  Šwork.€€He€described,€for€example,€a€beam€notched€on€the€bottom,€š šwhich€made€it€instead€of€a€16Š œģ  Šinch€beam,€an€8€inch€beam€for€all€practical€purposes.šš€€It€was€later€resolved€by€putting€in€a€closetŠ …Õ  Šdownstairs€that€was€not€planned,€in€order€to€put€a€wall€under€that€beam€for€support.€€Mr.€SchaferŠ n¾  Šbecame€especially€concerned€when€he€saw€three€of€Vaccaroššs€employees€trying€for€several€hoursŠ W§  Što€š šfigure€out€how€to€cut€a€rafter€for€this€roof.€€And€thereššs€three€there€.€.€.€on€an€hourly€rate.€Š @ ŠCouldnššt€figure€out€how€to€cut€or€to€either€draw€the€proper€angle€for€the€rafter.šš€€Mr.€Schafer€saidŠ )y Šthat€Mr.€Vaccaro€was€rarely€on€the€construction€site.€€After€Mr.€Schafer€had€developed€significantŠ b Šconcerns€about€Vaccaroššs€workmanship,€the€rainstorm€of€August€8,€1997€occurred.€€Mr.€Schafer€wasŠ ūK Šout€of€town€that€evening,€and€received€a€distressed€telephone€call€from€his€wife€that€rainwater€hadŠ ä4 Šcome€in€the€skylight€and€the€roof,€as€well€as€through€light€fixtures€and€electrical€outlets,€with€waterŠ Ķ Šstanding€in€the€ground€floor€and€the€basement€of€the€house.€€A€friend€put€plastic€on€the€roof€to€tryŠ ¶ Što€prevent€further€damage.€€When€Mr.€Schafer€got€back€in€town,€he€left€Vaccaro€a€telephoneŠ Ÿļ Šmessage,€and€spoke€to€Mr.€Vaccaro€by€telephone€a€few€days€after€the€rain.€€Mr.€Schafer€describedŠ ˆŲ Šthe€damage€to€Mr.€Vaccaro,€since€Mr.€Vaccaro€had€not€been€to€the€Schafersšš€home€to€see€it.€€Mr.Š qĮ ŠSchafer€testified€that€he€told€Mr.€Vaccaro€that€he€was€not€happy€with€Vaccaroššs€workmanship,€andŠ ZŖ Šthat€Mr.€Vaccaro€acknowledged€š šthings€werenššt€going€wellšš€and€told€Mr.€Schafer€that€š šit€wouldŠ C“ Šprobably€be€better€that€we€did€go€our€separate€ways€and€he€move€on.šš€€Mr.€Schafer€said€that€VaccaroŠ ,| Šdid€not€ask€for€an€opportunity€to€fix€the€problems€with€the€Schafersšš€home.Š e ŠĢą  ąMr.€Schafer€testified€that,€after€the€rainstorm€incident,€he€hired€MMR€Group€(š šMMRšš)€toŠ ē 7 Šrepair€the€damage€from€the€flooding€as€well€as€the€defects€in€Vaccaroššs€workmanship,€and€toŠ Š!   Šcomplete€the€renovations€to€the€house.€€The€repair€of€the€flooding€damage€and€the€correction€of€theŠ ¹" ! Šproblems€with€Vaccaroššs€work€were€invoiced€separately€from€MMRššs€work€on€the€newŠ ¢#ņ" Šconstruction.€In€addition,€Mr.€Schafer€did€some€of€the€repair€work€himself,€and€kept€track€of€hisŠ ‹$Ū# Šcosts€and€time.€€Mr.€Schafer€outlined€his€costs€for€remedying€the€flooding€damage€and€VaccaroššsŠ t%Ä $ Šdefective€work,€and€also€testified€about€expenses€sought€by€Vaccaro€that€he€€considered€excessiveŠ ]&­!% Šor€unwarranted.€€Mr.€Schafer€acknowledged€that€he€did€not€give€Vaccaro€a€list€of€the€constructionŠ F'–"& Šdefects€until€after€the€had€hired€an€attorney€and€that,€had€Vaccaro€asked€for€the€opportunity€to€cureŠ /(#' Šthe€defects,€in€light€of€his€opinion€of€Vaccaroššs€workmanship,€he€would€not€have€let€him€come€backŠ )h$( Što€fix€the€Ō_Ōdefects.€€Mrs.Ō_Ō€Schafer€testified€as€well,€primarily€about€the€extensive€flooding€that€occurredŠ *Q%) Šā āat€the€home€the€night€of€August€8,€1997,€while€her€husband€was€out€of€town.€€She€asserted€that€theŠ ź*:&* Šš šwhole€housešš€was€flooded,€the€second€floor,€the€first€floor€and€the€basement,€and€identified€asŠ ° Šexhibits€numerous€photographs€of€the€flooding.Š ™é Šā āĢą  ąThe€Schafers€proffered€testimony€from€Dan€Cline€and€Barry€Cummings€with€MMR,€as€wellŠ k» Šas€MMRššs€subcontractor,€Richard€Threlkeld.€€Cline€detailed€the€areas€in€which€VaccaroššsŠ T¤ Šconstruction€was€below€the€applicable€standard€for€such€work,€and€the€repairs€needed€to€correct€theŠ =  Šdefects.€€After€they€stabilized€the€house€from€the€flooding,€Cline€testified,€they€had€a€code€inspectorŠ & v Šcome€to€the€house€to€inspect€and€verify€the€list€of€repairs€needed€to€bring€the€house€up€to€code.€Š  _ ŠMMR€then€worked€from€that€list.Š ų H ŠĢą  ąCline€testified€that,€in€the€first€floor€storage€room,€the€walls€were€out€of€plumb€and€theŠ Ź   Šheaders€had€to€be€replaced,€and€existing€plywood€had€to€be€removed€in€order€to€make€the€repairs.€Š ³  ŠIn€another€area,€double€liners€and€new€windows€had€to€be€installed,€with€extensive€dismantlingŠ œģ  Šneeded€in€order€to€do€so.Š …Õ  ŠĢą  ąCline€noted€the€notched€beam€discussed€by€Mr.€Schafer€in€his€testimony.€€Cline€testifiedŠ W§  Šabout€a€photograph€of€it:Š @ ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąThe€glu„lam€beam€that€was€notched€to€go€on€top€of€the€all.€€TheŠ b Šproper€method€would€be€to€notch€the€wall,€not€the€beam.€€And€theyŠ ūK Šš!š€they€tried€to€correct€this€method€by€putting€a€temporary€braceŠ ä4 Šunderneath€there.€€It€was€supposed€to€be€just€a€straight€wall.ŠĶ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą ø ąSo€what€we€had€to€do€is€to€jack€it€up€to€get€the€wall€level€orŠ Ÿļ Šthe€ceiling€level.€€We€also€had€to€support€underneath€the€glu„lam,€and€Š ˆŲ Šwhat€we€ended€up€doing€was€building€a€small€closet€underneath€thatŠ qĮ Šcorner€to€carry€the€weight€of€the€glu„lam.ŠZŖ` x` x ŠĢCline€described€joists€that€needed€to€be€replaced€and€a€photograph€of€the€deck,€an€area€in€which€theŠ ,| Šwater€was€directed€toward€the€house€instead€of€away€from€the€house:Š e ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąAnd€what€happened€the€concrete€was€out€of€level,€and€the€wall€thereŠ ē 7 Šwas€out€of€level,€and€everything€on€that€corner€was€going€out€ofŠ Š!   Šlevel.€€And€then€as€you€can€see,€this€is€going€downhill.€€And€thisŠ ¹" ! Šlooks€like€it€is€going€back€towards€the€house.€€The€water€was€goingŠ ¢#ņ" Štowards€the€house€instead€of€away€from€the€house.Š‹$Ū#` x` x ŠĢą  ąCline€also€described€the€area€in€which€Mr.€Schafer€had€testified€that€Vaccaroššs€employeesŠ ]&­!% Šspent€an€inordinate€amount€of€time€trying€to€cut€roof€rafters€to€end€up€with€the€correct€pitch.€€ClineŠ F'–"& Šsaid€that,€after€virtually€replacing€the€entire€roof€on€the€addition,€the€new€roof€ended€up€tying€in€withŠ /(#' Šthe€same€pitch€as€the€original€roof.€€Cline€said€that€the€skylight€in€the€master€bath€was€notŠ )h$( Šwaterproofed,€so€when€it€rained,€water€entered€through€the€skylight€and€went€all€the€way€down€toŠ *Q%) Šthe€garage.€€This€had€to€be€redone,€and€hurricane€clips€put€in€instead€of€pressure€blocks,€which€wereŠ ź*:&* Šno€longer€permitted€under€the€applicable€code.€€Cline€described€other€areas€in€which€headers€wereŠ Ó+#'+ Šundersized,€liners€had€to€be€replaced,€gables€were€out€of€plumb,€joists€were€running€in€the€wrongŠ ° Šdirection,€and€floors€had€to€be€jacked€up.Š ™é ŠĢą  ąCummings€testified€that€he€came€to€the€Schafersšš€house€after€the€August€8,€1997€flooding.€Š k» ŠHe€said€that€the€house€was€š šcovered€in€wateršš€when€he€arrived.€€Cummings€explained€that€VaccaroŠ T¤ Šhad€been€working€in€a€number€of€areas€of€the€house€at€once,€and€these€areas€were€only€š špartiallyŠ =  Šdried€in,šš€that€is,€only€partially€weatherproofed.€€Cummings€explained€the€proper€method€to€protectŠ & v Šagainst€the€type€of€water€damage€that€occurred€at€the€Schafersšš€house:Š  _ ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąThe€way€that€we€do€it€is€when€we€open€an€area€of€a€home€up€forŠ į 1  Šrenovation,€that€is€the€area€that€we€concentrate€on€until€it€is€weatherŠ Ź   Šproofed€š!š€not€weather€proofed€until€it€is€dried€in€for€that€day.€€WeŠ ³  Šdonššt€leave€the€job€until€the€area€that€we€have€opened€up€is€dried€in.Šœģ ` x` x ŠĢCummings€said€that€Vaccaro€fell€below€the€industry€standard€in€protecting€the€Schafersšš€house€fromŠ n¾  Šwater€damage.€€Cummings€also€corroborated€Mr.€Schaferššs€testimony€that€many€of€the€expensesŠ W§  Šclaimed€by€Vaccaro€were€not€customary€in€the€industry,€more€excessive€or€were€otherwise€improper.Š @ ŠĢą  ąThrelkeld,€MMRššs€subcontractor,€testified€primarily€about€the€work€he€and€his€crew€did€toŠ b Šcorrect€Vaccaroššs€defective€work€and€remedy€the€water€damage.€€In€waterproofing€the€SchafersššŠ ūK Šhouse,€Threlkeld€said,€he€saw€that€Vaccaro€had€put€felt€paper€on€the€roof.€€In€doing€so,€instead€ofŠ ä4 Šš šlappingšš€the€paper€in€a€manner€to€shed€water,€Vaccaro€had€lapped€the€paper€improperly€so€thatŠ Ķ Šwater€was€directed€inside€the€house.€€In€doing€his€work,€Threlkeld€testified,€he€kept€a€log€book€ofŠ ¶ Šwork€done€to€remedy€defective€work,€separating€it€from€the€new€construction.Š Ÿļ ŠĢą  ąAt€the€conclusion€of€the€testimony,€the€trial€court€issued€an€oral€ruling,€finding€thatŠ qĮ ŠVaccaroššs€work€was€not€done€properly,€and€that€Vaccaro€failed€to€properly€protect€the€house€fromŠ ZŖ Šwater€damage.€€After€the€rainstorm€incident,€the€trial€court€concluded,€the€Schafers€were€justifiedŠ C“ Šin€not€wanting€Vaccaro€back€on€the€job.€€The€trial€court€found€that,€as€a€result€of€VaccaroššsŠ ,| Šsubstandard€work,€the€Schafers€were€required€to€go€in€and€tear€out€Vaccaroššs€construction€in€orderŠ e Što€repair€the€defects€and€the€water€damage.€€As€a€result,€the€trial€court€denied€any€damages€toŠ žN ŠVaccaro,€disallowing€a€number€of€Vaccaroššs€claimed€expenses,€and€awarded€the€Schafers€aŠ ē 7 Šjudgment€in€the€amount€of€$17,706.39.€€From€this€judgment,€Vaccaro€now€appeals.Š Š!   ŠĢą  ąOn€appeal,€Vaccaro€argues€that€the€Schafers€were€not€entitled€to€damages€because€they€wereŠ ¢#ņ" Šrequired€to€give€Vaccaro€notice€of€the€claimed€defects€and€the€opportunity€to€cure€them.€€In€addition,Š ‹$Ū# ŠVaccaro€argues€that€the€Schafers€were€improperly€awarded€damages€for€š šrepairingšš€constructionŠ t%Ä $ Šthat€was€not€performed€by€Vaccaro.Š ]&­!% ŠĢą  ąOur€review€of€this€case€is€governed€by€Rule€13(d),€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure,Š /(#' Šwhich€provides€that€review€of€a€bench€trial€decision€shall€be€ņņde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trialŠ )h$( Šcourt,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€evidenceŠ *Q%) Špreponderates€otherwise.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d);€ņ ņņņUnion€Carbide€Corp.€v.€Huddlestonó óóó,€854€S.W.2dŠ ź*:&* Š87,€91€(Tenn.€1993).Š Ō+$'+ Їą  ąMr.€Vaccaro€first€argues€that€he€should€have€been€given€notice€of€the€defects€and€anŠ ° Šopportunity€to€repair€any€defective€work.€€In€general,€a€party€alleging€breach€in€a€contract€case€mustŠ ™é Šmake€efforts€š šreasonable€under€the€circumstances€existing€at€the€timešš€to€mitigate€the€damages.€€ņ ņņņSeeŠ ‚Ņ ŠSalley€v.€Pickney€Co.ó óóó,€852€S.W.2d€240,€244€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992)€(quoting€ņ ņņņAction€Ads,€Inc.€v.Š l¼ ŠWilliam€B.€Tanner€Co.ó óóó,€592€S.W.2d€572€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1979)).€€The€injured€party€is€required€toŠ V¦ Šmitigate€by€using€a€method€that€is€reasonable€under€the€circumstances.€€Where€reasonable,€this€canŠ @  Šinclude€giving€the€party€in€breach€of€the€contract€notice€of€the€claimed€defects€and€an€opportunityŠ ) y Što€cure.€€Where,€however,€the€defects€are€extensive€and€the€contractorššs€overall€performance€mustŠ  b Šbe€deemed€unworkmanlike,€the€injured€party€may€reasonably€refuse€to€risk€further€injury€by€givingŠ ū K Šthe€contractor€the€opportunity€to€attempt€to€repair€the€defects.€€ņ ņņņId.ó óóóŠ ä 4  ŠĢą  ąIn€this€case,€the€Schafers€clearly€acted€reasonably€in€hiring€another€contractor€to€repairŠ ·  ŠVaccaroššs€work.€€Even€if€Vaccaro€had€sought€to€repair€the€claimed€defects,€the€Schafers€couldŠ  š  Šreasonably€refuse€Vaccaro€that€opportunity.€€In€this€case,€within€a€relatively€short€period€of€time,Š ‰Ł  ŠVaccaro€managed€to€compile€a€stunning€array€of€incidents€of€defective€work,€failing€to€evenŠ rĀ  Šweatherproof€their€work€to€protect€the€house€from€the€elements.€€We€find€no€error€in€the€trial€courtššsŠ [«  Šholding€on€this€issue.Š D” ŠĢą  ąVaccaro€also€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€awarding€the€Schafers€repair€costs€forŠ f Šdefective€construction€when€Vaccaro€did€not€perform€the€defective€construction.€€In€particular,Š ’O ŠVaccaro€objects€to€being€required€to€pay€damages€for€the€repair€of€the€water€damage€to€the€SchafersššŠ č8 Šhome.€€Vaccaro€argues€that€the€Schafers€š šrefused€to€incur€the€expense€involved€in€drying€in€theŠ Ń! Šhouse.€.€.€.€[T]here€would€have€been€no€water€damages€had€the€[Schafers]€followed€[Vaccaroššs]Š ŗ  Šadvice€and€dried€in€the€roof.€€[Vaccaro]€cannot€be€held€liable€for€damages€caused€by€[the€Schafersšš]Š £ó Šrefusal€to€heed€[Vaccaroššs]€advice.ššŠ ŒÜ ŠĢą  ąThis€argument€on€appeal,€while€demonstrating€considerable€chutzpah,€has€no€basis€in€eitherŠ ^® Šthe€law€or€the€evidence€at€trial.€€If€a€party€breaches€a€contract€by€inadequately€performing,€then€heŠ G— Šis€liable€for€the€repair€of€any€damages€caused€by€his€inadequate€performance.€€ņ ņņņWilhite€v.Š 0€ ŠBrownsville€Concrete€Co.,€Inc.ó óóó,€798€S.W.2d€772€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1990);€ņ ņņņJesseeššs€Estate€v.€Whiteó óóó,Š j Š633€S.W.2d€767€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1982).€€Thus,€even€if€Vaccaro€did€not€work€directly€on€the€damagedŠ  T Šareas,€such€as€a€room€on€the€ground€floor€that€had€not€been€renovated€but€was€the€subject€of€waterŠ ķ = Šdamage,€Vaccaro€would€be€liable€if€the€water€damage€resulted€from€Vaccaroššs€defective€work.Š Ö!&  ŠĢą  ąIn€this€case,€the€evidence€is€clear€that€Vaccaro€had€an€obligation€to€dry€in€the€house€whileŠ Ø#ų" Šit€was€under€construction.€€The€expert€testimony€proffered€by€the€Schafers€was€undisputed€andŠ ‘$į# Šunequivocal€that€a€contractor€such€as€Vaccaro€is€obligated€to€make€certain€that€the€house€isŠ z%Ź $ Šweatherproofed€each€day€before€they€leave€the€job€site.€€Cummings€explained€that€this€was€normallyŠ c&³!% Šaccomplished€by€concentrating€on€a€particular€area€of€the€home€being€renovated,€and€drying€in€theŠ L'œ"& Šarea€under€construction€each€day.€€In€contrast,€Vaccaro€had€š šseveral€areasšš€of€the€house€open€to€theŠ 5(…#' Šelements,€and€these€were€only€partially€dried€in.€€In€his€testimony,€Cummings€maintained€that€it€š šisŠ )n$( Šstandard€in€the€industry€to€operate€so€that€you€do€not€leave€the€house€exposed€to€the€elements,šš€asŠ *W%) ŠVaccaro€did.Š š*@&* ŠŠ Ł+)'+ Šą  ąMr.€Vaccaro€testified€that€he€had€proposed€to€Mr.€Schafer€that€the€house€be€dried€in€by€usingŠ ° Šfelt€and€š šcheap€shingles,šš€and€that€the€Schafers€š šdidnššt€want€to€go€to€that€expense.šš€€Mr.€VaccaroŠ ™é Šdid€not€testify€that€the€Schafers€chose€not€to€have€the€house€dried€in,€only€that€they€did€not€want€theŠ ‚Ņ Šexpense€of€the€temporary€shingles.€€Even€Mr.€Vaccaro€acknowledged€his€obligation€to€be€certainŠ k» Šthat€the€roof€did€not€leak,€saying,€š šand€I€know€we€put€something€over€it€because€we€wouldnššt€justŠ T¤ Šlet€it€leak,€but€what€I€donššt€recall.šš€€Indeed,€the€evidence€was€clear€that€Vaccaro€made€some€attemptŠ =  Što€dry€in€the€house,€but€did€so€poorly,€lapping€the€roof€felt€in€the€wrong€way€so€that€water€wasŠ & v Šfunneled€into€the€house,€installing€plywood€improperly,€leaving€gaps€in€the€roof,€leaving€a€skylightŠ  _ Šexposed,€and€otherwise€failing€to€adequately€protect€the€house.€€Vaccaroššs€argument€is€clearlyŠ ų H Šwithout€merit.Š į 1  ŠĢą  ąAfter€reviewing€the€overall€record,€the€evidence€clearly€supports€the€damages€awarded€to€theŠ ³  ŠSchafers.€€We€find€no€error€in€the€judgment€awarded€against€Vaccaro.Š œģ  ŠĢą  ąThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed,€and€costs€are€assessed€to€the€Plaintiff/AppellantŠ n¾  ŠVaccaro€Construction€Co.,€Inc.,€for€which€execution€may€issue,€if€necessary.Š W§  ŠĢĢĢĢą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ą____________________________________________Š ä4 Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąHOLLY€M.€KIRBY,€JUDGE