Well, you'll have to drill at least one hole for the thermostat sensor, so it's time to get those power tools out!
I use wooden & melamine vivs with UTHs.
Lifespan-wise they're fine, but they won't last forever as the damp gets into the joints eventually. Melamine is most prone to this and the covering can bubble and peel. You can minimse this by sealing joints with an aquarium sealant and you can still expect a respectable few years' service from them. Wooden ones you can keep going if they're properly sealed, by sanding and re-varnishing now and again.
Heating-wise, it's best to have the UTH outside the viv to avoid burns/electrocution risk. I do this for most of mine by creating a mat the size of the viv floor by taping cork floor tiles together. I cut a hole the size of the UTH, placing the UTH in the hole and the viv on top of the cork mat, over the UTH. This creates a small void where the UTH sits, allowing air circulation (important to avoid overheating, even with the all-important stat) and making sure that the weight of the viv doesn't rest on the UTH.
The heat rises through the wood and heats the floor of the viv with no trouble at all. The important thing is to have the thermostat sensor inside the viv, on the floor immediately above the UTH's position. That way you control the heat where the Corns are going to come into contact.
If you have to have the UTH inside the viv, you should create a false floor and sit the UTH underneath. At all times, it's important that neither Corns nor their faeces should be able to touch the UTH. Again, the thermostat sensor should be on top of the false floor, where the Corns come into contact with the resulting heat.
Happy heating!
