# Tiling your floor with pennies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 1, 2017, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085 "2017-03-01T04:38:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/1 "2017-03-01T04:38:23Z")
Pennies make a great floor tiling. Costs about $2 to $3 a sq foot. Depends on how many pennies you use in the design. I’m thinking about doing my family room floor. A few designs [https://goo.gl/images/Oq51mc](https://goo.gl/images/Oq51mc) [https://goo.gl/images/AQojXX](https://goo.gl/images/AQojXX) [https://goo.gl/images/VUCWm5](https://goo.gl/images/VUCWm5) My favorite. I’d keep the border close to the wall. [https://goo.gl/images/fZNeEm](https://goo.gl/images/fZNeEm) DIY article. Check YouTube for instructional vids. > **[How To Install A Penny Floor - A Made in USA DIY Project](https://www.usalovelist.com/penny-floor-made-in-usa/)** > > DIY Penny Floor Project: photos, materials, and step-by-step how-tos. Have you ever seen a floor made entirely of pennies? You've gotta see this! ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/2 "2017-03-01T04:46:32Z")
Misread the thread title, but I’m not saying as what. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/3 "2017-03-01T05:36:30Z")
I’ve thought about doing this too. But I probably don’t have the patience for it. Would you have to cut the pennies in the last row against the wall, or do you just get to the nearest penny and let the epoxy fill in the gap? Cutting a bunch of pennies would not be my idea of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Fruitbat2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Fruitbat2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fruitbat2)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/4 "2017-03-01T05:41:48Z")
Wow. That is fabulous! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/5 "2017-03-01T05:43:59Z")
I would use floor molding to hide any gap between the pennies and wall. I wouldn’t want to do a bathroom. Tiling around pipes and the toilet. That would require cutting. A den or family room would be a big open space. I need to watch a few YouTube vids. Learn how to tile with pennies. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/6 "2017-03-01T05:48:48Z")
It’s a little busy and shiny for my taste. And tedious, as mentioned already. I don’t think I’ll be trying this myself. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/7 "2017-03-01T05:51:49Z")
Don’t ever drop a penny on that floor; you’ll never find it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/8 "2017-03-01T06:31:47Z")
Honestly? I think it looks tacky. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/9 "2017-03-01T06:33:37Z")
Should the need arise, how much of a nightmare is this to remove? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/10 "2017-03-01T07:09:42Z")
Depends on how it’s laid. I would put down Quarter-inch backer board. Just like they do for vinyl flooring. Backer board gives a smooth surface to tile or apply these pennies. To remove… Set a circular saw to 1/4" depth. Use a multipurpose wood & metal saw blade. Cut out manageable size squares. Pry up and toss in trash. Then you could put down new finish flooring. Hardwood, Travertine or whatever. I’ve had to do this remodeling old houses. They might have 5 layers of old vinyl sheeting in the kitchen. We just cut it out and dropped in new plywood. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/11 "2017-03-01T07:18:55Z")
I’ve seen two variants of this scheme before and both of them have their pros and cons: **Tile the floor with pennies, then overcoat with a smooth layer of clear epoxy** - this preserves the pennies in their original state and looks nice when it’s new, and it provides a perfectly flat floor (if you do it right), but the epoxy surface will wear and lose clarity - and if at any point you need to repair a section, you’ll never get it to blend in. **Tile the floor with pennies and fill the gaps between them with tile grout mix** (leaving the faces of the coins exposed) - this is more wear-resistant and more repairable, but less flat, and the clever patterns you introduce by juxtaposing bright and tarnished pennies will not last. IMO, it’s pretty, and interesting, but I think I would tire of it quickly. It also reminds me of [pub tabletops](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pub+table+top+coins&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi_jLWu4rTSAhUrIsAKHb26CxoQ_AUICSgC&biw=957&bih=583), which I have seen done in that style (this association makes it a bit tacky, not elegant) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/12 "2017-03-01T07:31:20Z")
There are pros and cons. I’m a bit concerned how well it would wear. I’m still at the thinking about it stage. 😃 It’s fun to consider alternative materials. But it’s important to thoroughly research any project before deciding. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/13 "2017-03-01T08:44:36Z")
I’m guessing that this would not enhance the value of your home. Most prospective buyers are going to take one look at your penny floor and want to rip it out. Of course, this may not matter to you if you plan to stay in the home the rest of your life. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/14 "2017-03-01T12:37:15Z")
Kind of cheap looking. I’d use silver dollars, or at least quarters. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/15 "2017-03-01T12:38:39Z")
One thing that’s similar, but also different, is the idea of covering the floor with small slices of hardwood branches, then filling the interstices with coloured epoxy, then sanding back flat to the wood, and sealing. I’ve not seen it done on a floor, but if the effect is anything like [this](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/80/31/65/8031659c4d30841500682cd6d54e1ccc.jpg) bowl, I think I could like it more than a floor ‘o’ pennies. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/16 "2017-03-01T12:57:20Z")
Looks like something Donald Trump would do. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/17 "2017-03-01T12:59:27Z")
Not my cup of tea at all, but I’m wondering how you maintain the contrasting colors. It looks like some of the coins have been highly polished to lighten them up, but surely they are going to tarnish over time, no? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/18 "2017-03-01T13:05:13Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Not my cup of tea at all, but I’m wondering how you maintain the contrasting colors. It looks like some of the coins have been highly polished to lighten them up, but surely they are going to tarnish over time, no? If you entomb them in clear epoxy, as some do, they should retain their brightness or patina. Otherwise, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/19 "2017-03-01T13:40:42Z")
I think it’s one of those things everyone would remark on, in an, “Wow! Isn’t that interesting!”, kind of way. And it is, I thought so the first time I saw one! But I sure wouldn’t put it in my home. Especially not in a highly visible spot. I think it would get really tacky looking, very quickly. A shed, closet, wine cellar…maybe. But front and centre in my home…I don’t think so. Not for me. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085/20 "2017-03-01T13:56:51Z")
A decade or two ago I think there was a fad for making WC seats from clear epoxy/resin and embedding small sea shells and the like within, as presumably, a conversation piece… Most amusing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiling-your-floor-with-pennies/781085.md?page=2)