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                                PRESS RELEASE



      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:              CONTACT:

      VALHI, INC.                        JOSEPH S. COMPOFELICE
      THREE LINCOLN CENTRE               EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
      5430 LBJ FREEWAY                   (281) 423-3303
      DALLAS, TEXAS   75240-2697
      (972)  233-1700




                   VALHI COMPLETES SALE OF OREGON OPERATIONS

           Dallas, Texas ... February 28, 1997 ... Valhi, Inc.
      (NYSE:VHI) announced that it has completed the previously
      announced sale of its Oregon medium density fiberboard operations
      to SierraPine, a California limited partnership for $36 million,
      in cash proceeds, plus the assumption by SierraPine Ltd. of
      approximately $3.7 million of debt.  These operations were part of
      Valhi's building products business operated by Medite Corporation,
      a wholly owned subsidiary of Valcor, Inc., which is a wholly owned
      subsidiary of Valhi. The Company will use the proceeds of the sale
      for general corporate purposes.

           In 1996 Valhi completed the sale of Medite's Oregon timber
      and timberlands for approximately $118 million in cash proceeds,
      $53 million of which was used to pay down Medite U.S. bank debt.
      Valhi also completed in 1996 the sale of its Irish medium density
      fiberboard operations for $61.5 million cash proceeds, plus the
      assumption of $21 million of Irish bank debt.  With the completion
      of the sale of the Oregon operations, Valhi has disposed of
      substantially all of its building products operations for an
      aggregate of approximately $240 million.

           Valhi is engaged in the chemicals, component products and
      waste management industries.