We installed our pre-finished hardwood this past winter doing our best to stick to manufactures instructions and NOFMA guidelines. However, it seems that there are areas that when we walk on sounds like rice crispies. What usually causes these types of symptoms?

I was planning to layout about 1100-sft aria (living, dining and family rooms) of hardwood using basketweave pattern before one of the contractors questioned popularity of basketweave and said that I will have hard time to sale my house with basketweave floor. Here is the pattern that I wanted to use laying it down diagonally: I want to use light color ¾“ x 3 ¾“wood mixed with small cherry squares nailed down to plywood or nail down light color bamboo mixed with darker color. Please let me know your thoughts, I really like the basketweave pattern but if it is not going to be asset for my house I will spend the money on something else.