Contractor Material Substitution Breach

A dispute arose when a contractor, having undertaken construction work under a contract that specified the use of specific materials, subsequently substituted different, lower-quality materials without the client's explicit authorization, leading the client to refuse final payment. The court held that the substitution of materials in a construction contract, even if the work performed appears generally satisfactory, constitutes a breach of contract when the agreed-upon specifications regarding materials are essential terms, thus justifying the client's refusal to pay the full contract price because the contractor failed to adhere strictly to the agreed-upon terms.