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For walls that are already in place, the job is tougher and typically calls for blending more than one insulation method to reach an R-23 value. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests exterior wall assemblies in new homes and additions fall between R-11 and R-38.",[29,30,32],"h2",{"id":31},"key-factors","Key Factors",[16,34,35],{},"How much insulation you can fit inside a wall cavity depends on the dimensions of the framing. A 2 x 4 wall cavity gives you 3 ½ inches of depth, while a 2 x 6 cavity provides 5 ½ inches. That means you can place 3 ½ inches of insulation in a 2 x 4 wall, or 5 ½ inches in a 2 x 6 wall.",[16,37,38],{},"Many different insulation materials exist for wall assemblies. The most frequently used products for interior wall cavities are fiberglass batt, cellulose, and wool. Each has a different R-value. 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