Covering grout line behind shower edge trim

Question

There is a 3/8" grout line behind the end trim of the new bathroom tile, how do I cover this, do I just float it with mud once I tape the joint?

Answer 1

Yes, float the drywall's surface right up to the start of the trim. Be sure to get an even reveal all the way up. A little wave here and there is no big deal, where the caulk's edge on the trim is the critical reveal.

When your wall is ready for paint, you'll want to caulk the 90° joint where the drywall plane meets the metal trim first. A little bead in that joint looks best (that's why you float right up to the trim). For the bead of paintable caulk you want to tape a vertical line on the trim for a nice sharp edge. Now caulk the joint with a nice small bead and be sure to leave the painter's tape in place. That tape will protect the trim from your subsequent painting too. Only when the final top coat is on the wall do you want to remove the tape.

There are a caveats to go with the painter's tape. If the leg of your caulk bead is too thick on top of the tape's edge, then peeling the tape can leave a little visible tear or worse. If you don't pull the tape at the correct angle, the tape can peel the paint away from the wall.