Did you google it or go to YouTube? I think some of that can be spray foamed.

This is what the contractor/workers did. I’ve researched and it doesn’t look right to me. I just wanted some input so I can address it properly with the GC.

I’ve seen better work. Unfaced batts and poly film over the wall would have been a better choice IMHO. pipes and wires should have split batts behind and in front so they fill the stud cavity which is easier to do with unfaced. The unfilled cavities bother me more than the kraft paper but then we live in an area that doesn't need a vapor barrier.

This is perfectly average fiberglass insulation installation- their task was to put fiberglass everywhere and they did. Unfortunately most won’t work to spec. When it is overly compressed you don’t get the listed R value, you certainly aren’t getting the consistent vapor barrier. Typically in renovation I spec spray foam for this reason, it fills irregular cavities completely.

Agree this would have been a good opportunity to upgrade the performance of the home by using spray foam insulation--albeit in a limited area.

Sloppy job, especially in those 4-5" gaps where the paper has been crammed in. I would ask the contractor to redo those sections and anything where there's air instead of insulation.

Thank you. I needed some confidence before my approach to the contractor with this issue.
I’m not a pro (obviously) but it seems logical that it’s not properly installed.

When you choose faced insulation as your vapor retarder, it will not be perfect. Vapor retarder (note I used the proper term "retarder" rather than common term "barrier" to emphasize my point) is not perfection - think if you used a poly film over unfaced insulation - and all the holes from staples and drywall screws. In a 100 year old house you are probably not doing a blower door test, and will never have an airtight house. So typically material selections match the budget and project, and you will not have problems if the paper does not fully cover some studs here and there.

The compression as Hallett pointed out is not good, but I do see this new Kitchen wall is a furred out wall inside of the old exterior wall, so there may be other insulation in the outer wythe. The bigger concern is the EMT to the recessed light is too close to the edge of the joist. Hi Chicagoland resident.