Avanti Tile & Stone in South Carolina: Where to Find Quality Materials and Design Help

What Avanti Tile & Stone offers in South Carolina

Avanti Tile & Stone is a tile and stone retailer with locations across South Carolina that stocks residential and commercial materials for flooring, walls, and countertops. The company carries porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, and engineered surfaces from multiple manufacturers, and most locations offer in-house design consultation to help you choose materials that fit your space and budget.

Unlike big-box stores, Avanti focuses on specialty tile and stone rather than general building supplies. That means deeper inventory in specific categories—large-format tiles, natural slate, marble, granite, quartz—and staff who spend their time on tile and stone rather than rotating through departments. If you're working with a contractor or designer, many Avanti locations will work directly with trade professionals and can often hold materials while your project timeline develops.

Key Takeaways

• Avanti Tile & Stone has multiple South Carolina locations stocking porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, and engineered surfaces for floors, walls, and countertops.
• Most locations offer in-house design consultation to help you select materials that match your aesthetic and budget before you purchase.
• The company works with contractors and designers, and many locations will hold materials for active projects.
• Visiting in person lets you see how different tiles and stones look in natural and artificial light before committing to a large order.

Finding the Avanti location nearest you

Avanti operates multiple showrooms across South Carolina, with locations in the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry regions. Each showroom displays samples of current inventory and can order materials not in stock. The company's website lists all active locations with addresses and phone numbers, and most showrooms are open during standard business hours Monday through Friday, with limited Saturday hours at some locations.

Before visiting, call ahead if you have specific materials in mind or need a design consultation. Some locations book design appointments in advance, especially during busy seasons like spring and early summer when renovation projects peak. If you're working with a contractor or interior designer, ask whether they have an account with Avanti—many trade professionals do, and that relationship can sometimes affect pricing or delivery options.

What to expect when you visit a showroom

Avanti showrooms display tile and stone samples on walls and in floor-level displays so you can see how materials look at eye level and underfoot. Lighting matters enormously with tile and stone—a sample that looks one way under showroom lights may read differently in your home or office. Many showrooms let you take samples home for a day or two so you can see how they look in your actual space under your actual lighting.

Staff can discuss durability, maintenance, and cost differences between materials. Porcelain is harder and more stain-resistant than ceramic but typically costs more. Natural stone like marble and granite are beautiful but require sealing and more careful cleaning. Engineered surfaces like quartz offer the look of natural stone with easier maintenance. The right choice depends on where you're installing the material—a high-traffic kitchen floor has different demands than a bathroom accent wall—and how much upkeep you're willing to do.

Design consultation and project planning

Many Avanti locations offer design consultation at no charge when you're purchasing materials from them. A designer can help you think through color, pattern, and scale in relation to your existing finishes, cabinetry, and fixtures. They can also advise on grout color, which affects how a tile installation reads once it's complete—a light grout makes individual tiles more visible, while a matching grout creates a more unified surface.

If you're working from a floor plan or photos of your space, bring those to your consultation. The designer can suggest layouts, discuss whether large-format tiles or smaller mosaics make sense for your room, and help you understand how many square feet you'll need to order. It's worth ordering 10 to 15 percent extra to account for cuts, breakage, and future repairs—tile colors and patterns can shift between production runs, so having extra from the same lot matters.

Pricing, ordering, and delivery

Avanti's pricing varies by material type and manufacturer. Ceramic tile generally costs less than porcelain; natural stone costs more than engineered surfaces; and specialty finishes or imported materials carry premium prices. The showroom can give you a per-square-foot price for materials you're considering, and that price typically holds if you order within a set timeframe.

Once you've chosen your materials, Avanti can place the order and arrange delivery to your home or job site. Delivery times depend on whether the material is in stock or needs to be ordered from the manufacturer—in-stock items may arrive within days, while special orders can take several weeks. Ask about delivery fees, which may vary based on location and order size. Some contractors arrange their own pickup to save on delivery costs, so discuss options with whoever is installing your tile or stone.

Working with contractors and designers

If you're hiring a contractor or interior designer, they may have preferred suppliers or existing relationships with Avanti. That can be an advantage—the contractor knows the showroom, the staff knows the contractor's standards, and materials may be ordered more efficiently. Some contractors receive trade pricing, which can reduce your material costs.

Even if your contractor has a preferred supplier, you can still visit Avanti to see samples and get a sense of what's available. Seeing materials in person before your contractor orders them means you're making an informed choice rather than picking from a catalog photo. If you find something you love at Avanti, your contractor can often source it through their own channels or work with Avanti directly on your project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take tile samples home to see how they look in my space?

Most Avanti locations allow you to take samples home for a day or two so you can see how materials look under your home's lighting and alongside your existing finishes. Call ahead to confirm the showroom's sample policy and ask how many tiles you can take at once.

What's the difference between porcelain and ceramic tile?

Porcelain is denser and more durable than ceramic, making it better for high-traffic areas and wet environments. Ceramic is softer and less stain-resistant but costs less. For kitchen floors and bathrooms, porcelain is usually the better choice; for accent walls or low-traffic areas, ceramic works fine.

Do I need to order extra tile beyond what my installer estimates?

Yes—order 10 to 15 percent extra to account for cuts, breakage, and future repairs. Tile colors and patterns can shift between production runs, so having extra from the same batch means any future repairs will match.

How long does it take to get an order after I place it?

In-stock materials may arrive within days; special orders typically take two to four weeks depending on the manufacturer and material type. Ask Avanti for a specific timeline when you place your order so you can plan your project schedule accordingly.

Will Avanti work directly with my contractor?

Yes, most Avanti locations work with contractors and designers. If your contractor has an account with Avanti, they can often order materials directly and may receive trade pricing. Even if they don't, Avanti can coordinate with your contractor on delivery timing and specifications.