Clicking Noises from Oak Parquet Floor

Q: Hello – Four months ago, we moved into our home which has 3 year-old oak flooring throughout. For the last few weeks, we have been hearing ‘random’ clicking coming form various parts of the floor – while we are sitting in the living room, something seems to click on/from the floor. I have considered that perhaps the flooring is contracting or expanding, and that perhaps the noises are no more than that. On the other hand, I am concerned that we may have some kind of insect infestation… Can you offer any advice on what we are dealing with, and what we might do?
Thanks in advance.
Eoghan
Waalre, The Netherlands
A: My guess here is that this is just random adjustments from weather – so your expansion and contraction guess is on target. This should not be something to worry about as bug noises tend to be heard from walls and not floors.
Now just to be safe, what I would suggest doing is moving the furniture which is over the areas in question and tapping on the parquet to make sure none of the tiles have come loose. I doubt this is the case, but if so its good to know now rather than find out later after damage has occurred.
If weather is currently a bit different than normal (more humid summer than usual, very cold winter, etc.) than I would suggest looking into measures to bring the environment in your home back to a norm. If its more humid than normal, look into a dehumidifier, if its very dry out, get a humidifier also try to keep the temperature in your home around the same temperature all year long. Typically about 65 degrees with 40% humidity is perfect for both humans and wood flooring.