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                           DAYTON SUPERIOR CORPORATION
                      EXHIBIT 11 - COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS
                     PER COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE
           (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Three Fiscal Months Ended                                   
                                                                 -----------------------------                                  
                                                                     March 29,     March 28,                                    
                                                                       1996          1997                                       
                                                                 -----------------------------                                  
                                                                    (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)                                   
                                                                                                                                
<S>                                                                 <C>            <C>                                          
Weighted average number of common                                                                                               
       shares outstanding during the period                         3,288,000      5,676,414                                    
Common equivalent shares outstanding (a)                               45,389        222,911                                    
Weighted average common and common                                                                                              
                                                                 -----------------------------                                  
       equivalent shares outstanding                                3,333,389      5,899,325                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                 =============================                                  
Net income (loss)                                                       (401)            160                                    
                                                                 =============================                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                 =============================                                  
Net income (loss) per share                                           ($0.12)          $0.03                                    
                                                                 =============================                                  
</TABLE>

Fully diluted earnings per share are not significantly different from primary
earnings per share.

-------------

Notes:

(a)    Common equivalent shares are shares issuable upon the exercise of stock
       options and warrants, less the shares that could be purchased with the
       proceeds from the exercise of the options and warrants, based on the
       company's initial public offering price of $13.00 for 1996 and the
       company's average trading price for 1997.