Yes. You can absolutely do hardwood with radiant. Some systems are more difficult and less efficient than others, but you can definitely make it work. There have been concerns in the past with other systems providing an uneven heating surface which can prematurely warp and age the wood. Instances of this actually happening are extremely rare, but can be an issue if the wood is not treated properly prior to installation. If you plan to only do a kitchen, an electric radiant mat might be the perfect solution. You may just want to double-check electricity rates in your area. Here in California, electric radiant is extremely expensive to operate. I would recommend you speak to the manufacturer of the hardwood you decide on using and see what they recommend. Good luck!

Hardwood floors over radiant is a beautiful thing & very comfortable. If installed correctly you can use virtually any type of hardwood on top of radiant, whether its solid, engineered, nailed down, nailed & glued down or floated. It is a misconception that radiant floor hurts hardwood, but really it is the relative humidity of the home & the hardwood that makes wood expand & contract. If you want to speak with a great hardwood company go to www.launstein.com they warranty all their wood products on top of radiant & have testing facilities of their own. Additionally, the company I work for, Warmboard, uses lower water temperatures than other systems. You can also nail hardwood directly to our product. Feel free to call or email if you have any questiosn 877-338-5493 cwebber@warmboard.com

We have warmboard under oak flooring, not engineered wood. It is great - even heat. We did use quartersawn lumber rather than plain becauase it is much more resistant to expansion and contraction.

We have 2800 square feet of LVT throughout the first floor of our ranch house, bathrooms and kitchen included, and it is gorgeous. They were professionally installed; the subfloor was leveled so that there are no door transitions or height differences throughout, and it is a stunning look. Downstairs basement is engineered hardwood. If we ever need to redo the floors in the basement, it will be LVT. There is no going back; it is just too lovely and practical. The cork backing of the LVT makes the floors very comfortable underfoot, and they are very quiet. I considered tile with radiant heat until I spent a week in a beach condo with tile floors; they felt too hard under my feet.