Backsplash finish details — metal or bullnose at exposed edges, caulk (not grout) at the counter

Finish the exposed outer and top edges with a metal profile or bullnose, not a raw tile edge. Caulk (not grout) the countertop joint, inside corners, and cabinet edges — those are movement joints (TCNA EJ171). Grout only the flat field.

Source: TCNA EJ171 movement joints; ANSI A108.01 changes of plane

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What this diagram shows

A backsplash elevation showing the two finishing details installers get wrong. The exposed outer and top edges, where tile ends on open wall, get a metal Schluter profile or a bullnose tile rather than a raw cut tile edge. The joint where the bottom row of tile meets the countertop, every inside corner, and the edge against a cabinet are all changes of plane, so they are filled with a flexible color-matched caulk or ASTM C920 sealant, never with rigid grout, which would crack at those moving joints. Only the flat tile field between tiles is grouted.

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    <img src="https://remodelcalculators.com/api/figure-embed/backsplash-edge-and-caulk" alt="A backsplash elevation showing the two finishing details installers get wrong. The exposed outer and top edges, where tile ends on open wall, get a metal Schluter profile or a bullnose tile rather than a raw cut tile edge. The joint where the bottom row of tile meets the countertop, every inside corner, and the edge against a cabinet are all changes of plane, so they are filled with a flexible color-matched caulk or ASTM C920 sealant, never with rigid grout, which would crack at those moving joints. Only the flat tile field between tiles is grouted." width="800" height="470" style="width:100%;height:auto;border:0" loading="lazy">
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    Diagram: <a href="https://remodelcalculators.com/construction-diagrams/backsplash-edge-and-caulk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Backsplash finish details — metal or bullnose at exposed edges, caulk (not grout) at the counter</a> — courtesy of <a href="https://remodelcalculators.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RemodelCalculators.com</a>
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