My new house will have a double-wall design, similar to what I did in '80, but better.... I think. In my present house I used two, 2x4 walls, insulated, around a 5 1/2" gap, stacked full or fiberglass batts; pretty normal, I guess. What I did NOT like about it, after years of thinking, were all the penetrations in the VR (vapor retarder) by electrical boxes, etc, and all the flipping metal strips over wires that were too close to the sheet rock. On my next house, I am planning on putting the VR on the outside of the inner 2x4 wall to avoid all the prior nuisances. Yes, it will be a bit tricky at times to hang visqueen on the inner wall through the outer wall, but I feel the tightness I'll gain will be worth it. (The inner wall will not be load bearing, so I may build it as a partition wall, standing it up from the inside, w/ VR already on it... mostly.) I have NO INTEREST in sealing around and in electrical boxes; been there, done that. I will also likely leave the inner 2x4 wall devoid of fiberglass, for a couple of reasons. One, I can insulate first, then run wire and the odd plumbing pipe while being relatively warm, and I won't have to fiddle around fitting 'glass around wires, which is never perfect anyway. Secondly, leaving the inner wall devoid of glass will keep the VR well w/ in the "1/10 of the (temp) way through the wall". Thirdly, I'll have no particular amount of time to emit water vapor into the insulation whilst I am working on wiring, etc. Lastly, I won't need little metal strips over wires/pipes that are too close to the sheet rock. Yes, I'll have to insulate like a maniac and get sheathing/house wrap up before the insulation gets rained on, too; that will be fun for all. QUESTION for you double-wallers: Is this how it is normally done? Anyone see any problems w/ this idea? Better ideas? Thanks for any thoughts. john. PS: (Type of insulation is another topic.)