It seems pretty small. You could use spackle to fill it. If it's deeper than 1/4", do multiple coats. I probably wouldn't even worry about texture and just paint it, but it looks like there is wall above the switch plate that needs to be textured. You can buy the stuff in a can, but if you're not really comfortable doing it, just have a painter come do it. Prime and paint after the texture.

It looks like someone did a bad caulk job there. I would scrape it all out, sand a bit, and recaulk it properly. Once dry, prime that area, and use your brush on the ends to pounce to get that slight texture back again. Once thats all dry, paint it and do the same pouncing with the end of a stiff bristle brush again, to get the texture right. If it looks like it needs a bit of spackle, before you recaulk, then do that before caulking, let it dry, sand it down, and then caulk.

Oh so it needs caulked too? That's outside of my purview - lol. I probably need to have someone come over and do this (not me).

Yes it should be caulked. Actually, I notice grout between your backsplash and countertop. That should have been a matching type caulk, not grout.

Yes, caulk, paintable caulk on the blue tape corner. And caulk between the counter & backsplash instead of grout.

That's outside of my purview - lol.

FWIW, I'm much better with a caulk gun than I am with a mascara wand. Easier to clean off caulk goofs, too.

If they used grout instead of caulk between the granite and tile, is it too late to caulk and can I do it over the grout? Thanks so much everyone.

" is it too late to caulk and can I do it over the grout? "

Grout needs to be removed.

No caulking, ever over grout. Yes, it needs to be removed, or you can leave it until it cracks, and then pick it all out, and get it recaulked. By the way, did you get the spot on your floor repaired?

I don't know why tile installers like to put grout where caulk should go. Maybe laziness and they aren't around to see it crack. Wherever there is a change in plane or type of material, it should be caulk so that it can move. You should be able to buy caulk in the same color as your grout. Call your tile guy and have them do it.

Thank you all. Yes we got it all fixed. Lived in an Airbnb for 2 months because the hardwood on the entire 1st floor had to be sanded and stained. It’s been loads of fun. New cabinet too! Almost done. This is it!

Hope you are back in your house for Christmas.

Thanks. We are back home. Just working on this final issue. Then waiting for my reimbursement from our insurance. Hoping we don't get dropped after this - it was a big claim. :(

“I don't know why tile installers like to put grout where caulk should go.”

Because it is a highly contentious recommendation by the TCNA and is not quite so firm as people here believe. Go over to the John Bridge forums and half of the pro’s there use grout instead of caulk whenever possible.

The rule that many there use is caulk between floor and wall, but grout between counter and wall. The reason being, walls and floors are going to move separately. However, cabinets set on the floor but are attached to the wall and are likely to move with the wall. You get minimal, if any, cracking between counter and backsplash, especially if using a polymer modified grout.

Grout is considered a permanent solution, where caulk is not. Grout should never need removal and reapplication, while caulk will. The TCNA seems to recognize that their recommendation is contentious because they also explain why installers may use grout.

From the TCNA:

Technically, anywhere there is a change in substrate or backing surface such as the joint between walks and floor and wall joint, caulk should be used in place of grout since these surfaces move independently of each other. However, it is important to recognize and make the end user aware of some important points.

Often, installers use grout in place of caulk for these reasons:

1. The caulk may not exactly match the grout color.
2. Even when the caulk exactly matches the grout color when installed, it may not match six months later (caulk will “age” differently from the grout).
3. Caulk will need to be maintained more often than grout.
4. Mold may grow more easily on caulk (except caulk treated with mildewcide) than on grout.
5. Acrylic caulks break down in horizontal wet applications. Silicone, urethane, or multi-polymer caulks are better choices but can be harder to apply.

How did the leak in the DW develop? going to do a new house and want to ensure all water connections are done correctly…

@Joseph Corlett, LLC

but it was neatly done…

But the drywall work up above the switch is a mess. I guess the detour keeps the eye riveted there instead of on the drywall.

"The poor caulk job is invisible compared to the tile making a detour around your switch plate cover" - that made me LOL! So true! I don't know why he did that! Guess he didn't want to move the switch plate or whatever else needed done. This is how things go at my house! I just called my paint guy to come fix this mess tomorrow so that I can be DONE with this nightmare!