The cables are meant to be buried in the potting mix and not laid on top of shelves. I used a heating cable from Stokes several years ago. We built a heat table by making a framework of 2x4's, stapling hardware cloth to the bottom (to allow drainage), laying a sheet of landscape cloth in the bottom (to hold in the potting mix) then filling the "box" with several inches of ProMix, with the cable being buried in the mix. The whole thing was on folding legs that are available at HD etc. The table was setup in front of a large window and worked well for sticking cuttings for a couple months. Then suddenly the cable just quit working.....That was the end of that table. I went to using heat mats and found them much more versatile. I have now been using mats for about 5 years. I have one 4 foot one and 3 single tray size ones and they have been reliable and useful. You only want to put your seeds on heat for germination. Seedlings themselves prefer cooler temperatures and if left on heat will become elongated and weak. In fact, different seeds have different temperature requirements and some aren't put on heat for germination, such as columbines, delphiniums, coneflowers. You will need to look up the requirements for each kind of plant you intend to start.

Actually, I have saved considerably on my heating bills since I started using Speedheat's Rug Buddy. I started with one in the living room and then put them in all of my bedrooms, too. I used to keep my house a toasty 74 - not very green, I know, but I've always ran cold... but now, I only heat the rooms I'm using and keep it at about 68... it's a much different heat than blowing ones... it's like it heats you all the way to your bones or something... It takes about an hour to get the room up about 20 degrees or so if you cover about 50% or so of the room... about half an hour in the rooms that are 85% covered. Of course, your feet are warm within about 5 minutes, so that's helpful. I use the plug-in stat they have now in the baby room because I care more about the control, but the others, I just put them on a timer. They have an electrical cost calculator on their site. Just remember that you will use it less than other heaters because of the comfort level difference... and of course, you don't have to heat rooms you aren't using if you don't want to, which saves, too. - I think there are some that were on the market before that were more expensive to run - and I know hydronic is REALLY expensive. My uncle has it in NY, and it takes a pretty penny... I told him to just do this, but I haven't convinced him yet. lol Here is a link that might be useful: Speedheat's Running Cost Calculator

New Construction: I would like to know your opinion on installing electric heating mats on the bathroom floors (Tiles) and the entire first floor, which is wooden.

I have broken out the heated propagators for the first time in a decade. I used to lose track of all the various sowing needs so switched to the simplest method of all - stuffing some seeds in potting medium and waiting it out without doing anything else at all. By and large, I did OK although a lot of things were very slow to get going. This year, having gone a bit mad with the seed orders, I thought I would attempt to be a bit more...considered, so have a selection of stuff in the props as well as the usual amount still snivelling on the freezy bench. I do promise myself that this year, I am going to be a responsible, careful and dutiful gardener, taking note of seed germination sites and following instructions - not the demented dabbler I actually am. In truth, it would be an unmitigated disaster if everything actually germinated...as all space is now taken, while not a single seedling has been pricked out or potted on. Let us know how you are getting on MXK3 - will do the same. Cheers, Suzy x