Questions of law are matters reserved for de novo review by the appellate court, and we therefore give no deference to the trial court's judgment in such matters.Boillet v. Conyer, 861 S.W.2d 152, 155 (Mo.App.E.D. 1993). In cases involving breach of implied warranty, the theory on which HB sued Kirchner in Count III of its petition, the court is to apply the lower of the cost-to-repair or diminution-in-value in assessing the amount of damages.