Exhibit 5.1





                                August 12, 1999



Atrium Companies, Inc.
1341 W. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 1200W
Dallas, Texas 75247


                             ATRIUM COMPANIES, INC.
                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     This opinion is delivered in our capacity as counsel to Atrium
Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"), in connection with
the Issuer's registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration
Statement") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the
offering by the Issuer of $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its
10-1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009, Series B (collectively, the
"Notes").

     In connection with this opinion, we have examined copies or originals of
such documents, resolutions, certificates and instruments of the Issuer as we
have deemed necessary to form a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed.
In addition, we have reviewed certificates of public officials, statutes,
records and other instruments and documents as we have deemed necessary to
form a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed.  In our examination of
the foregoing, we have assumed, without independent investigation, (i) the
genuineness of all signatures, and the authority of all persons or entities
signing all documents examined by us and (ii) the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic
original documents of all copies submitted to us as certified, conformed or
photostatic copies.  With regard to certain factual matters, we have relied,
without independent investigation or verification, upon statements and
representations of representatives of the Issuer.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, as
of the date hereof, when the Notes have been duly authenticated by the State
Street Bank and Trust



Atrium Companies, Inc.
August 12, 1999
Page 2


Company, in its capacity as Trustee, and duly executed and delivered on
behalf of the Issuer against payment therefor as contemplated by the
Registration Statement, the Notes will be legally issued and will constitute
a binding obligation of the Issuer, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance and transfer, moratorium or
other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights or
remedies of creditors generally and by general principles of equity (whether
applied in a proceeding at law or in equity) including, without limitation,
standards of materiality, good faith and reasonableness in the interpretation
and enforcement of contracts, and the application of such principles to limit
the availability of specific equitable remedies such as specific performance.

     We hereby consent to being named as counsel to the Issuer in the
Registration Statement, to the references therein to our firm under the
caption "Legal Matters" and to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement.  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit
that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                                Very truly yours,

                   /s/ PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKER LLP