EXHIBIT 5.1

            [LETTERHEAD OF FRIED, FRANK, HARRIS, SHRIVER & JACOBSON]



                                                                    212-859-8000
June 25, 1998                                                (FAX: 212-859-4000)
Dal-Tile International Inc.
7834 Hawn Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75217

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We have acted as special counsel for Dal-Tile International
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the
underwritten public offering by Armstrong World Industries, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation, or a subsidiary thereof ("AWI") of shares (the "Shares")of common
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company,including
Shares which may be offered and sold upon the exercise of overallotment options
granted to the underwriters.

                  With your permission, all assumptions and statements of
reliance herein have been made without any independent investigation or
verification on our part except to the extent otherwise expressly stated, and we
express no opinion with respect to the subject matter or accuracy of such
assumptions or items relied upon.

                  In connection with this opinion, we have (i) investigated such
questions of law, (ii) examined originals or certified, conformed or
reproduction copies of such agreements, instruments, documents and records of
the Company, such certificates of public officials and such other documents, and
(iii) received such information from officers and representatives of the Company
as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. In
all examinations, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons
executing documents, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of
original and certified documents and the conformity to original or certified
copies of all copies 



                                                                  June 25, 1998



                                       2

submitted to us as conformed or reproduction copies. As to
various questions of fact relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have
relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, representations and warranties
contained in the documents and certificates and oral or written statements and
other information of or from representatives of the Company and others and
assume compliance on the part of all parties to the documents with their
convenants and agreements contained therein.

                  Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations,
qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the
Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

                  The opinion expressed herein is limited to the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as currently in effect.

                  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the
caption "Validity of Common Stock" in the Prospectus forming part of the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we
are in the category of such persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                 Very truly yours,

                                 FRIED, FRANK, HARRIS, SHRIVER & JACOBSON

                                 By: /s/ Frederick H. Fogel
                                     -------------------------------------
                                     Frederick H. Fogel