We installed 450 square feet of red oak on a vary long day on friday. After we finished and where cleaning up behind us we noticed some ticking and cracking noises in the floors when walked on. Then when trying to isolate the noises we began to notice that on some of the flooring the groove side would move up and down on the tongue slightly when stepped or pressed on(the entire length of some individual pieces). We have about 50 square feet left over for some paneling on an island so I checked the tongue and groove fit. Turns out about 60% of the tongues fit snugly in the groove, and the rest of the tongues move around loosely within in the groove...some individual flooring pieces fit well for 1/2 the length while the other 1/2 moves around in the groove.

I bought this flooring of a local mill/moulding company. I have used them 1/2 a dozen times before and never had a problem. I am going to the mill to show them the issue first thing this week.

The tongue should fit snugly in the groove? I know I am probably screwed as far as my labor cost go, but I would think they are responsible for the bad mill work and should replace the flooring? Any experience, suggestions, advice is appreciated. Thank you

Yes, return the flooring.

Stuff happens.