Creating the PERFECT enclosure??

[JenessaDent]

Hello all! I am new to this site and also a new (and very excited) beardie owner. I got him about three weeks ago and he is shooting up like a sprout! I still have him in a starter terrarium (20 gal, glass) just while I was having his bigger enclosure built (I did not have all the required tools to create the frame, so I had a family member help me out with it). It is 4 ft long, 2 ft wide and 2 ft tall. White melamine wood, with vents in the sides and back. I want to make sure that I make it perfect!!! So can I get some help and advice from you other reptile lovers??
First, I will be putting a sandy color tile in the bottom, to make it easy to clean. What kind of material can I use to seal the tiles together? I heard that grout is too rough or toxic or something.
Second, I would like to stain or paint the inside, which is better? And which brands of stain or paint are non toxic and non harmful? Is there a certain color I should make it so it helps it stay hot, but not too hot?
How can I fireproof the top of the enclosure (where the lights come through the holes?)
I will be installing a 36" strip fixture for the UVA/UVB lighting, but for this size enclosure, what wattage should I be looking for?
What wattage heat lamp should I be looking for?
I will be attaching a bit of repti carpet in part of the enclosure, via velcro, which side would be best to put it on? The hot side or the cool side?
I am having a professional stone mason create a basking platform, feeding platform and hides and caves for him, but what (if any) materials should I tell him to avoid?
In general, what building materials should I be avoiding that may be toxic or dangerous? I think I know them all but its always good to get advice from experienced beardie parents!

I REALLY appreciate any and all advice you guys can give me. I just want to make this enclosure perfect so he can continue to be happy and healthy

 

[Taterbug]

For your tiles
Grout is ok - but I don't recommend it. It's good to be able to take the tiles out to clean.

For your interior
Paint is probably your only choice - I don't think stain will work on melamine. I'm not sure about paint either, actually. It's a good idea to use a sealer like polyurethane or polycrylic too, just be sure to let it cute completely. Color probably doesn't matter but is still with light colors, at least with the ceiling as the brightness is important too.

Materials
Avoid pine, cedar and similar woods. Anything that maybe small enough to get ingested.

Lights
We didn't do anything special for fire proofing, we have all lights mounted inside. Look at the T5 lighting - a 24"/24W bulb would be good for that size cage and is a better quality of light. A PAR38+ halogen floodlight is a good start for basking lights - you may need a dimmer or to try a few wattages to find what you need.

What's the purpose of the carpet?

 

[JenessaDent]

He seems to really enjoy the repti-carpet substrate I have in his enclosure now. Particularly when he's shedding, he likes to itch his face on it. And when he needs to cool down, he always moves to the carpet from the tile.
Thanks so much for answering all my other questions, you've been a great help