Rack: buy or build

So honestly, is it cheaper to buy a rack set up with tubs and heat and not have the trouble of worrying to set it up, or if you know a guy who builds cabinets should you just pay him to build one to your needs? All I would have to do would be tell him the dimentions and how many shelves I need and order flexwatt. However, somehow I am afraid I will mess it up. I thought I would take your opinions on rack systems that you like or if melamine racks with flexwatt are sufficient. I only have 4 snakes at the moment but I am sure that will increase by one or two and it would be so much easier to maintain the cages.

Also, sorry I have a post like this somewhere else too, but I found a better place for it here :)

I've been wondering the same lately. Whether it would be cheaper to make one or buy one with tubs included. Hopefully someone can answer your questions here!

I'm debating the same thing. I'm convinced I'll cook my snakes if I try to wire the Flexwatt, no matter how simple it is in theory..so I think I'm going to just bite the bullet and buy a fully equipped rack. :)

I prefer to build my own now that I have a local source for expanded PVC sheets I come out cheaper. Wiring flexwatt is very very simple most places that sell it will wire it for you if youre not confident in doing it yourself

I prefer to purchase racks as the headache of making them (with the time and energy of being sure the heat tape will work) is far more worrying and time consuming to me then building my own. I got a couple of great racks from a breeder friend and they keep husbandry and BP health on spot. Just my opinion.

I bought mine from Animal Plastics. It was fast and easy. I got one that was six levels with 4" belly heat. I put it together in about 15 min. It took me the longest to fit the heat tape in but that was because I had a two year old "helping" me. I didn't know where I could get the PVC 'stuff' cut. So went the easy rout. If you decide on DIY there are some great threads that show every step. Good luck:)

I found it really easy to just make my own. Wire the flex watt to an extension cord which i plugged into a dimmer and wire to thermometers to it. Easy and cheap.

I am THAT guy that builds cabinets so being a herp keeper too I started building them :D

Does anyone have an opinion on the Animal Plastics racks? I am looking at their sterilite racks and their economy plastics racks are affordable. However the 32qt racks are lengthwise running heat tape down the longest side it looks like. Does this provide enough of a heat gradient so they can get cool?

I build my own, I am making plans for the next 3, using xpvc.