Exhibit 23.1
                                       
                       Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the 
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of NCI Building 
Systems, Inc. for the registration of 3,800,000 shares of its common stock and 
to the use of our report dated December 8, 1997, except for Note 9, as to 
which the date is July 31, 1998, with respect to the consolidated financial 
statements of NCI Building Systems, Inc. included in the Registration Statement
on Form S-3, and of our report dated August 5, 1998, with respect to the 
consolidated financial statements of Amatek Holdings, Inc. included in the 
Registration Statement on Form S-3.


                                       /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                                       -----------------------------
                                       ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Houston, Texas
August 6, 1998