<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE THIRD QUARTER 1996 10-Q OF BUILDING MATERIALS CORPORATION OF AMERICA AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-29-1996 <CASH> 12648 <SECURITIES> 29397 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 66246 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 194385 <PP&E> 192349 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 489050 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 119909 <BONDS> 300821 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 11815 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 489050 <SALES> 581002 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 581002 <CGS> 419321 <TOTAL-COSTS> 419321 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 21891 <INCOME-PRETAX> 25673 <INCOME-TAX> 10012 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15661 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15661 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0