The owners of Scottsdale’s Flooring America know their business.

In the community since 1995, Ed, Valerie and son Todd Boettcher watch the trends in floor coverings and provide their clientele with a wide range of choices in tile, carpet, wood and more.

Size does matter. Tile has taken a turn toward larger sizes. What was common not long ago, a foot square piece, is being replaced by 18-by-18 inch tiles or 20 by 20-inch. The larger size is growing in popularity, and the Boettchers say they are installing the new sizes on a daily basis.

The larger tile offers numerous advantages over their smaller cousins. Less grout is required to install the larger tiles. Grout often is the most vulnerable to dirt and staining. This is greatly reduced with the larger tile sizes.

Larger tiles make an area appear larger. With fewer grout lines, the room appears less busy.

Installing larger tile updates the look of a home.

“This look definitely modernizes the home,” the Boettchers say. “It has a classic appeal.”

Wood flooring also has gained popularity in this area since the Boettchers opened their Scottsdale store. In the beginning, people in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and other nearby communities were not buying wood flooring. It has become more and more popular in the last five years.

Larger planks are becoming stylish replacing the standard two- and three-inch wide slats. The narrower planks continue to be popular in a more formal setting, but the wider slats create a casual, comfortable feel in any room. Current wood styles include a “hand-scraped” look, which offers an undulated surface which shows less foot activity and use.

“Green” products also are appearing more and more in homes. Renewable resources such as cork and bamboo are satisfying people’s need to be more environmental and earth-friendly. Another environmental method is to use reclaimed flooring, where planks are removed from old buildings, such as churches or schools. The top veneer is removed, and a new wood floor is created.

“It is just a good way to recycle good wood flooring,” the Boettchers said.

Engineered wood also is available. The wood is made from plys, similar to plywood, so it is less expensive but also is durable. “Engineered wood is real wood, but it isn’t solid,” the Boettchers said. “It is more stable than solid wood floors in that it decreases the expansion and contraction of the wood. It just provides another option for the consumer.”

Ed Boettcher noted that floor covering sizes have “grown” over the years, but prices have not followed suit. Competition by manufacturers of both tile and wood have maintained, and in many cases, lowered prices to the consumer.

Flooring America may be able to help its customers with financing. The store offers a one-year, no interest, no payment plan for qualified buyers. Other plans are available.

The store, located at 10240 N. 90th St., is a modern, 5,000-square-foot showroom with current tile, wood, laminate and carpet samples, along with multiple in-stock specials of tile and laminate. Flooring America offers its customers a chance to sign out products for in-home viewing, giving people a real look at how the materials will work in their homes.

The Boettchers also provide no cost, no obligation measuring for any flooring project. They also have design consultation, as well as showroom experts who can answer questions about all types of floor covering.

Flooring America is a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau and the Registrar of Contractors.

The store is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The phone number is (480) 451-9600.