I recently hired someone to install a ceramic tile backsplash in my kitchen.  I asked him to leave a 1/16″ gap between the countertop and the tile that I could fill with caulk.  He talked me out of it and used grout right down to the counter.  My thinking was that any movement in the countertop would create a crak line along the tile and counter.  Two weeks later I am proven correct.

I have not yet sealed the grout.  I am planning to clean up the cracked grout as best I can and then allpy a small bead of caullk at the tile/counter line.  I am not sure if I sould use the sealer or grout first.  If I use the sealer first, the caulk might not stick as well.  If I use the caulk first, watter could seep behind and then mildew.

What is the best meathod?  Was my idea of the 1/16″ gap a good one?

Thanks for the help.