EXHIBIT 5.1

December 20, 2001



Huttig Building Products, Inc.
Lakeview Center, Suite 400
14500 South Outer Forty Rd.
Chesterfield, Missouri  63017

Gentlemen:

I am Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Huttig Building Products,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and in such capacity I am familiar
with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to which this opinion is filed as an
exhibit (the "Registration Statement"). The Registration Statement registers
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), deferred
compensation obligations (the "Obligations") and an aggregate of 200,000 shares
of Common Stock, par value $0.01, of the Company (the "Shares") issued from time
to time pursuant to the Huttig Building Products, Inc. Deferred Compensation
Plan (the "Plan"). Under the terms of the Plan, the Shares that may be
distributed to plan participants are limited to shares of Common Stock of the
Company that may be purchased in the open market, from private sources or out of
treasury shares of the Company and not original issuance shares.

I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise, identified to my
satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public
officials and other instruments as I deemed necessary for the purposes of the
opinion expressed herein. I have assumed (i) the genuineness of all signatures
on all documents examined by me, (ii) the authenticity of all documents
submitted to me as originals, (iii) the conformity to authentic originals of all
documents submitted to me as certified or photostatic copies, and (iv) the due
authorization, execution and delivery of all documents.

On the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that when the Registration
Statement, including any amendments thereto, shall have become effective under
the Securities Act, and the Obligations have been issued in accordance with the
terms of the Plan, then the Obligations will be legally valid and binding
obligations of the Company, except as may be limited by the applicability or
effect of (a) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, or (b)
general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of
reasonableness, materiality, good faith and fair dealing and the possible
unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable
remedies, regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law.

This opinion is not rendered with respect to any laws other than (i) the laws of
the State of Missouri, (ii) the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, and (iii) applicable federal laws. I do not assume any duty to update
this opinion with respect to changes of law or fact occurring after the date
hereof.

I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. I also consent to your filing copies of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement with such agencies of such states as you deem
necessary in the course of complying with the laws of such states regarding the
offering and sale of the Shares. In giving this consent, I do not admit that I
am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.


Very truly yours,



/s/ Nick H. Varsam
Nick H. Varsam
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary