Thanks wtrfwlr!! Good to know...but I already have the tile for my house...HOWEVER...I could use the pennies for my basement bathroom!! I might even toy with the idea of using a few of my dimes to make some sort of design in the pattern!
cwi...here are the 2 sets of directions I have...and a pic of it done on a counter top as well.
PENNY FLOORING (the fast and easy method)
~Wash pennys and flooring to remove all grim and oils for adhesive will work properly.
~Remove all door and base moldings from the room.
~Repair any imperfections on the subflooring.
~Sand down high spots with medium-grit sandpaper.
~Use a power drill with a wire-brush bit on masonry surfaces.
~Fill in holes and depressions on the subfloor.
~Use joint compound on wood substrates and hydraulic cement on concrete.
~Clean the floor with a mild degreasing detergent to remove dirt and oils.
~Rinse the floor thoroughly and allow it to dry fully.
~Cut squares of self-sticking fiberglass mesh into a uniform size. ~Cut squares with shears or a utility knife. Sizes range from 6 by 6 inch to 12 by 12 inch, depending on your choice. Use a metal straight edge as a guide to ensure straight lines on the squares. ~Measure the room to determine the square footage and create enough squares to cover the subflooring.
~Pace the fiberglass mesh squares with the adhesive side up. ~Apply the pennies to the squares, row by row.
~Line the pennies up to the straight line on the edge of the square.
~Place each penny so it touches the next one. Continue to apply pennies until pennies cover all of your squares.
~Measure the wall along the length on both sides of the room. ~Mark the floor at each end.
~Extend the chalk line between both points and snap the chalk line.
~Move toward the center of the room the distance that equals the size of the mesh square, measure both ends and snap the chalk line.
~Repeat until chalk lines cover the floor at intervals equal to the size of your squares.
~Measure the width of the room at both sides, mark the floor, extend a chalk line and snap.
~Move the distance equal to the mesh squares, mark the floor and snap the chalk line.
~Continue to measure, mark and snap the chalk line until a grid pattern covers the entire floor.
~Apply a thin layer of an epoxy-based clear adhesive to the inside of a square with a paintbrush.
~Begin in the center of the room.
~Set the penny tile in place and press it down with your hand to ensure good adhesion.
~Move to the left or right, apply adhesive to the floor, set the tile and press in place.
~Continue until penny tiles cover the subfloor.
~Make cuts to the tiles with a utility knife or shears as necessary around the pennies.
~Do not cut the pennies.
~Hide the gaps with base molding.
~Allow the adhesive to dry for four to six hours.
~Mix grout with water in a large bucket or trough.
~Apply the grout to the penny tiles with a rubber grout float. ~Wipe excess grout off the penny surfaces with a damp sponge.
~Allow the grout to set for 48 to 72 hours.
~Mix a clear two-part epoxy sealer according the manufacturer's directions.
~Choose an epoxy sealer that is UV blocking to avoid yellowing. ~Pour the sealer onto the floor creating a 1-inch coating.
~Spread the sealer evenly with a long-handled rubber squeegee.
~Allow the epoxy sealer to set for 48 to 72 hours before use.
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ONE PENNY AT A TIME FLOOR (the slow hard way)
~Mixwarm water and dish soap in a bucket, then drop in the pennies you would like to apply to the floor. Pennies are coated with oils, dirt and other debris that will prevent a good bond with the glue you'll use.
~Stir the contents of the bucket to be sure the pennies are thoroughly cleaned.
~Pour out the water and soap mixture, then rinse the pennies with fresh water.
~Dump the water from the bucket, then lay the pennies on a towel and let them dry.
~ Mop the floor. If the pennies or the floor are dirty, you won't be able to get a good bond between the two.
~Mix the epoxy resin and hardener according to the manufacturer's directions. Epoxy glues will create an incredibly strong bond, adhering to both the metal of the coins and the floor material.
~Apply a small amount of epoxy to one side of the coin. Use a toothpick to transfer the epoxy to the coin, using about as much epoxy as a grain of rice for each coin.
~ for laughs you can also place one or two coins in a well-trafficked area as a joke, or apply coins in a mosaic pattern to completely cover the floor.
Hey, Mark...maybe this could be a way for you to get some use out of those pennies!! ;D
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