Can loose-filled cellulose insulation be dense-packed, or does it have to be removed and reinstalled?
I hired a company to fill my walls, they used the 2 hole method and loose filled the walls, from what i have read the R value would be comparable but it will probably settle over time and have a higher air infiltration rate. I checked the contract and it does not actually state dense packed even though i am sure i requested it when i was getting quotes. Stupid me. I don’t think they do dense packed, the installer does not know the method for dense packing, or the density of his installations and their truck probably could not put out the pressure even if they had the right hose for it. Also the installer says i will get R20 from the installed cellulose (2×4 wall) and the barn boards that are behind the plaster and lath he said have an R value of 10 (i wish i could meet the person who designed this house well over a century ago, those things took forever to drill through), obviously not a very knowledgeable installer unlike the rep who quoted the job.
They plugged the holes with styrofoam plugs so they are easily removable.
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Alan,
The short answer is that a competent cellulose installer can dense-pack your stud bays without removing the existing insulation.
The only question is whether two holes per stud bay are adequate to provide the contractor with enough access to dense pack the entire bay. The answer to that question depends on whether the existing insulation is fluffy enough to allow the insertion of a hose beyond the hole, and whether the existing holes are large enough to allow a hose or pipe to be angled through the hole. It's always possible to drill additional holes if needed, but you may not want additional holes.
I think that you should get a competent cellulose installer on site to advise you.