I avoided bevels for that reason -- I'm not a super cleaner, have two teens and a dog, and wanted hardwoods in the kitchen. The microbevel isn't as bad, it just accents the individual boards, but ultimately I went with regular plank floors, sanded/finished in place.

That's got to be a new product. This is the first I've heard of it. The ones I've heard of so far (stain resistant) are Quartzlock, Spectralock, and Prism, the only one of which I've worked with is the Spectralock. I've heard good things about Prism, though. As for Quartzlock, I haven't heard much, good or bad. glad-- no, caulking doesn't need to be sealed. raynag-- I wish I'd seen your post earlier. If you're going to be washing out paint and dyes, I would highly recommend AGAINST a tile backsplash. You'll permanently ruin it in no time, unless you're meticulously careful. Think stainless steel!

My .02 - If you cook a lot, having grout lines behind the range just makes things worse to really keep clean. Have you considered a SS sheet - either smooth or embossed with a pattern? SS shows dirt quite easily - which could be good if you really want to keep the dirty stuff clean, or could be bad if you'd rather have something that hides a bit of the dirt.

In my opinion they are both kind of correct, and kind of not. Cast iron pipe will rust on the inside and unless you are doing something completely crazy in your home, you simply can't prevent it. This rust will form rough spots on the inside of your pipe and waste particles will stick to it. The same thing happens with steel pipe, which I assume your smaller (under 2") pipes are steel. If you already have significant rust the best process for removing it is probably hydro-jetting. Once your pipes have been cleaned out a bit the best idea is to fill every tub and sink in your home and simultaneously drain them once every couple of months. The volume of the water will do a better job cleaning out your pipes than the enzymes. But the enzymes can be good too if you have longer horizontal runs, often kitchen sinks are ran far from the main stack and enzymes can be particularly good there. Pouring extremely hot water down your bathroom sink and bathtub is a good idea every few weeks. Avoid pouring hot water in the toilet and there is some argument as to whether it is good or bad in a kitchen sink. These things can help your cast iron pipes last longer. However, rust is going to be an issue for as long as you have them.