Buying Guide...Change Your Flooring

In case you're like me and you'd rather just skip the DIY and buy the darn thing, here are some tiles that can be substituted for yesterday's "change your flooring" post. Buyer beware, though. This will cost you more than pennies.

The Options:

Image from CoolTiles.com 

Source: CoolTiles.Com

Illusion Glass Tile, Nickels Mosiac in Antique Copper

$35/sq. ft.

Buy it here

Image from GlassTileStore.com

Source: GlassTileStore.com

Metal Stainless Steel Penny Rounds in Copper

$17/sq. ft.

Buy it here

Image from GlassTileStore.com

Source: GlassTileStore.com

Metal Stainless Steel Penny Rounds in Silver

$17/sq. ft.

Buy it here

 If you remember...

At the end of yesterday's post I listed a few other DIY flooring ideas. One of them was recycled wine corks. Well, if you loved that idea...you're in luck. You can buy those, too.

 Image from ModWalls.com

And can I just say that I love ModWalls? They have the coolest tiles around for prices that can compete with your big box home improvement stores. (Yes, I'm look at you Lowe's and Home Depot).

These beauties are the CorkDotz Mosaic Penny Rounds and cost $16.95/sq. ft. Buy them here

Obviously if you opt to buy these instead of DIYing with you own corks your floor won't be covered in memories of bottles shared. But, if you aren't sentimenal, I say, "Go for it!"

Sources:

Antique Copper Nickel Rounds from CoolTiles.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.cooltiles.com/ubc525005.html

Copper Stainless Steel Penny Rounds from GlassTileStore.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.glasstilestore.com/shop-by-colors-now/copper/metal-copper-stainless-steel-3-5-penny-round-tiles.html

Silver Stainless Steel Penny Rounds from GlassTileStore.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.glasstilestore.com/collection/metal-tiles/metal-silver-stainless-steel-3-5-penny-round-tiles.html

Cork Penny Rounds from ModWalls.com. Get more info and pictures at http://www.modwalls.com/corkdotzpre-sealedcorkmosaictile.aspx

Weekend Project...Change your flooring

Image Source: Apartment Therapy, "Penny Tile at the Standard Hotel"

"Change" your flooring! 

Get it?  Lame, I know. 

This idea has been floating around Pinterest boards lately, but it's not a new concept. It's been around for a while, but that doesn't make it any less cool. This project is definitely for a very dedicated home owner on a budget (or not) and one with a LOT of time on their hands. This will probably take more than a weekend and your hands will have that dirty money smell for days. But, look at the results! Totally worth it.

How To

If you've ever tiled before, this will be a breeze. If not, no worries. It won't be that hard. You don't even have to rent a tile cutter for this one. There's two basic ways to approach this project.

1) Lay each and every penny directly on the floor

2) Save your back and adhere them to 12 x 12 mesh sheets before installing.

Either way, apply the pennies to the floor with an epoxy-based clear adhesive or thin-set concrete (depending on which instructions you read). Make sure you've removed all baseboards and trim before you do this. If you really wanted to, you could install this over existing tile or flooring, but I wouldn't suggest it if it can be avoided. Allow it to dry completely and then grout the entire floor. The excess will wipe off easily. 

Choosing a darker color won't show as much dirt over time.

Image Source: Apartment Therapy, "Penny Tile at the Standard Hotel"

Be sure to seal the pennies with a hefty epoxy sealer. If you like the variation of color, leave them as you found them. For a cohesive bright copper finish, polish your pennies with copper cleaner first. It will be too late after you apply the sealer. 

For something a little different...

Use a different coin. I know, that's more expensive. But I love the way nickels look for a more modern space. The pennies are great in a cozy room, but these nickels look so sleek in this bathroom!

Image Source: Apartment Therapy: "Nickel Tile Floor! A DIY Bathroom Renovation"

Just as a point of reference, you can purchase metal or ceramic mosaic tiles to get this same look. The style is called "penny rounds", appropriately. They were popular in pastel colors in the retro era. It will cost you more, obviously, but it will save you a headache if you like the general look but aren't a big DIYer..

Read On

Here are a few great sources to read up on how to do this and get some more inspiration:

Apartment Therapy: "Penny Tile Floor at the Standard Hotel" 

Apartment Therapy: "Nickel Tile Floor! A DIY Bathroom Renovation"

reno210: "A penny saved...is a tile floor"

EHow: "How to Tile a Floor with Pennies"

Other things that would make a beautiful DIY floor:

Recycled corks, sliced into rounds

Scrabble tiles

Sea glass

Crushed glass or shells set into concrete

Sliced sections of old tree trunks