Racks?

Im thinking about setting up a rack system. I only have one snake but to get more i gotta have a place to keep them and i figure if a get racks set up and ready to go all i have to do is convice the girlfriend, so a year or two right. So I've been researching alot and have a few questions?
1. laminated wood ,steel, or plastic racks
2. best way to keep temps up? flex watt or heat pads( pads seem like alota cords)
3. best way to measure temps? probes or infrared.
Or anything else you guys can ad


Thanks
Matt

1) Mostly personal preference, local availability, etc. I have not built a snake rack, so I would listen to people with more experience. Melamine seems to be the current norm.

2) Flexwatt, no question.

3) IR

Good luck.