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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.10

                                 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     THIS AGREEMENT is made effective as of the 1st day of December, 1997,
between ASHLEY ALUMINUM, INC., a Georgia corporation dba CAMERON ASHLEY BUILDING
PRODUCTS (the "Company") and C. STEVEN GAFFNEY, a resident of the State of
Florida ("Employee").


                                      BACKGROUND

     The Company desires to employ Employee on the terms and conditions set
forth below.  Employee desires to accept employment on the terms and conditions
set forth below.

                                      AGREEMENT 

     In consideration of the continued employment of Employee by the Company,
the premises, and the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties
agree:

     1.   DEFINITIONS.  The following terms used herein shall have the
definitions set forth below:

          (a)  "Business" or "Business of the Company" means the business of
distributing patio and screen enclosure products, vinyl and aluminum building
products, windows, fascia, soffit, fasteners, and other exterior building
products and roll forming aluminum building products.

          (b)  "Cause" means conduct amounting to fraud or dishonesty against
the Company; Employee's willful violation of Sections 2(a) or (b) hereof, or any
of the Company's work rules or policies or repeated absences from work without a
reasonable excuse, if the Board of Directors of the Parent notifies Employee of
such violation or absence in writing and Employee fails to cure such violation
or absenteeism within five (5) days after written notice has been given,
provided that written notice relating to such violation or absenteeism shall
only be given once as it relates to a particular manner of conduct; intoxication
with alcohol or drugs while on Company business during regular business hours; a
conviction or plea of guilty or NOLO CONTENDERE to a felony or a crime involving
dishonesty against the Company; or Employee's failure to observe the
requirements of Sections 2(c), 5 or 6 hereof. 

          (c)  "Disability" means (i) the inability of Employee to perform the
duties of Employee's employment due to physical or emotional incapacity or
illness, where such inability is expected to be a long-continued and indefinite
duration or (ii) Employee shall be entitled to (x) disability retirement
benefits under the federal Social Security Act or (y) recover benefits under any
long-term disability plan or policy maintained by the Company.  In the event of
a dispute, the determination of Disability shall be made by the Board of
Directors of the Company and shall be supported by advice of a physician
competent in the area to which such Disability relates.

          (d)  "Effective Date" means the date set forth above.

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     2.   TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT; DUTIES

          (a)  The Company hereby employs Employee, commencing on the Effective
Date, and Employee hereby accepts employment by the Company subject to the terms
and conditions hereof.  Employee is engaged initially with the title and
functions of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Executive
Vice President of the parent company, Cameron Ashley Building Products, Inc.
("Parent").  Employee shall report to and shall perform the duties assigned by
the Board of Directors of the Company and the Parent from time to time, and as
are provided in the Bylaws of the Company and the Parent.  Nothing herein shall
preclude the Chairman of the Company from changing the Employee's title and
duties if such officer has concluded in his reasonable judgment that such change
is in the Company's best interests.

          (b)  Throughout the term of this Agreement, Employee shall:

                    (i)   devote all of Employee's business effort, time, 
     energy, and skill (reasonable vacations and reasonable absences due to 
     illness excepted) to the duties assigned by the Board of Directors of the 
     Company and the Parent;

                    (ii)  faithfully, loyally, and industriously perform such
     duties, subject to the control and supervision of the Board of Directors 
     of the Company and the Parent; and

                    (iii) diligently follow and implement all lawful management 
     policies and decisions of the Company and the Parent that are communicated 
     to Employee.

          (c)  During the term of this Agreement, Employee shall not be engaged
(whether or not during normal business hours) in any other business or
professional activity, whether or not such activity is pursued for gain, profit
or other pecuniary advantage that is contrary to the provisions of Section
2(b)(i) above; provided, however, that this restriction shall not be construed
as preventing Employee from (i) investing his personal assets in businesses
which do not compete with the Company in such form or manner as will not require
any services on the part of Employee in the operation or the affairs of the
companies in which such investments are made and in which his participation is
solely that of an investor or (ii) purchasing securities in any corporation
whose securities are regularly traded provided that such purchase shall not
result in his collectively owning beneficially at any time five (5%) percent or
more of the equity securities of any corporation engaged in a business
competitive to that of the Company.

     3.   COMPENSATION.  

          (a)  In consideration of the services rendered by Employee pursuant to
this Agreement, the Company shall provide the following: 

               (i)  A base salary of One Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars
     ($160,000) per annum (the "Base Salary") which Base Salary will be reviewed
     periodically and may be increased by the Company from time to time.  The
     Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company's standard payroll
     practices in effect from time to time, and shall be subject to such
     deductions and withholdings as are required by law or by policies of the
     Company.

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               (ii) Reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses
     (including a $600.00 per month car allowance) incurred by Employee in
     connection with the Business of the Company subject to compliance with the
     expense reimbursement policies established by the Company and in sufficient
     detail to comply with Internal Revenue Service Regulations.

          (b)  Employee shall be eligible to be considered for an annual cash
performance bonus, which may consist of an amount of up to one hundred percent
(100%) of the Base Salary in the applicable year based on the attainment of
performance objectives established by the Board of Directors of the Company and
the Parent in good faith and Employee's contributions to the attainment of those
objectives, and shall be in such amount and payable in such manner and on such
terms as are determined by the Board of Directors of the Company and the Parent.
Nothing contained in this subsection (b) shall obligate the Company to pay a
bonus to Employee, unless the Board of Directors of the Company and the Parent
determines to award such a bonus to Employee. 
     
          (c)  The right to participate in any insurance plans maintained by the
Company from time to time to the extent that Employee's position, tenure,
salary, age, health and other qualifications make him eligible to participate,
and such other fringe benefits as are provided to the other senior management
employees of the Company, provided that the Company shall not be required to
adopt or continue any insurance plans or fringe benefits.  

          (d)  Employee shall receive options to purchase 50,000 shares of
common stock of the Parent pursuant to the terms of a Non-Qualified Stock Option
Agreement, subject to and  effective as of the date of approval thereof by the
Compensation Committee of the Parent.  Such options will have a term of ten
years and will vest in one-fifth increments over five years from the date of
grant and the exercise price of such options shall be the fair market value of
the Parent's Common Stock as of the date of grant.

          (e)  Employee shall be eligible for an additional grant of options to
purchase Common Stock of the Parent as of the end of the term hereof in such
amount as shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Parent.

          (f)  The remuneration and benefits set forth in this Section 3 shall
be the only compensation payable to Employee with respect to his employment
hereunder, and Employee shall not be entitled to receive any compensation in
addition to that set forth in this Section 3 for any services rendered by him in
any capacity to the Company or any affiliated corporation unless agreed to in
writing by the Company or such affiliated corporation.

     4.   TERM AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.  The term of employment of
Employee pursuant to this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and
shall continue for a term of three (3) years, or until sooner terminated as
provided herein.

          (a)  Employee's employment hereunder may be terminated:

                    (i)  Upon the death or Disability of Employee;

                    (ii) By the Company, immediately for Cause;

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                    (iii)     By Employee upon ninety (90) days prior written
          notice to the Company;

                    (iv) By Company immediately upon written notice to Employee;
          or

                    (v)  By mutual agreement between Employee and the Company.

          (b)  Except as set forth below, upon termination of Employee's
employment hereunder pursuant to this Section 4, the Company shall have no
further obligation to Employee or his personal representative with respect to
remuneration due under this Agreement, except for Base Salary earned but unpaid
at date of termination, provided however, Employee's covenants in Sections 5 and
6 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of Employee's employment
hereunder.  Upon termination of Employee's employment hereunder pursuant to
Section 4(a)(iv) above, Employee shall be entitled to receive severance pay (the
"Severance Amount") consisting of an amount equal to Employee's then current
annualized Base Salary paid over a twelve (12) month period in accordance with
the Company's standard payroll practices in effect at the time of termination. 
If Employee elects to continue coverage on the Company's health plan upon
termination of employment pursuant to Section 4(a)(iv) above, the Company will
pay the monthly premiums for the first twelve months of the eligible
continuation period or until Employee obtains employment and has satisfied any
necessary waiting periods under the new employer's health plan, whichever is
sooner.  It is understood that Employee's coverage under the Company's
disability, accidental death or dismemberment and group life insurance plans
cease as of the date of termination.  If Employee fails to observe the
requirements of Sections 5 or 6 hereof, then the Company shall have no
obligation to pay any portion of the Severance Amount remaining unpaid to
Employee.

     5.   OWNERSHIP, NON-DISCLOSURE, AND NON-USE OF TRADE SECRETS.

          (a)  The following terms used in this Section 5 shall have the
definitions set forth below:

                    (i)  "Excluded Information" means any data or information
          that is a Trade Secret hereunder (1) that has been voluntarily 
          disclosed to the public by the Company or has become generally known 
          to the public (except where such public disclosure has been made by 
          or through the Employee or by a third person or entity with the 
          knowledge of the Employee without authorization by the Company); (2) 
          that has been independently developed and disclosed by parties other 
          than the Employee or the Company to the Employee or to the public 
          generally without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality by 
          any such person running directly or indirectly to the Company; or (3) 
          that otherwise enters the public domain through lawful means.

                    (ii) "Trade Secrets" means information which derives
          economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known 
          and not being readily ascertainable to other persons who can obtain 
          economic value from its disclosure or use and which is the subject of 
          efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its 
          secrecy or confidentiality.  Trade Secrets may include either 
          technical or non-technical data, including without limitation, (1) any
          useful process, machine, chemical formula, composition of matter, or 
          other device which (A) is new or which Employee has a reasonable basis
          to believe may be new, (B) is being used or studied by the Company and
          is not described in a 

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          printed patent or in any literature already published and distributed 
          externally by the Company, and (C) is not readily ascertainable from 
          inspection of a product of the Company; (2) any engineering, 
          technical, or product specifications including those of features used 
          in any current product of the Company or to be used, or the use of 
          which is contemplated, in a future product of the Company; (3) any 
          application, operating system, communication system, or other computer
          software (whether in source or object code) and all flow charts, 
          algorithms, coding sheets,  routines, subroutines, compilers, 
          assemblers, design concepts, test data, documentation, or manuals
          related thereto, whether or not copyrighted, patented or patentable,
          related to or used in the Business of the Company; or (4) information
          concerning the customers, suppliers, products, pricing strategies of
          the Company, personnel assignments and policies of the Company, or
          matters concerning the financial affairs and management of the Company
          or any parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the Company; provided
          however, that Trade Secrets shall not include any Excluded
          Information.

             (b)  Employee acknowledges and agrees that all Trade Secrets, 
and all physical embodiments thereof, are confidential to and shall be and 
remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company and that any Trade 
Secrets produced by the Employee during the period of Employee's employment 
by the Company shall be considered "work for hire" as such term is defined in 
17 U.S.C. Section 101, the ownership and copyright of which shall be vested 
solely in the Company. Employee agrees (i) immediately to disclose to the 
Company all Trade Secrets developed in whole or part by Employee during the 
term of Employee's employment by the Company, and (ii) at the request and 
expense of the Company, to do all things and sign all documents or 
instruments reasonably necessary in the opinion of the Company to eliminate 
any ambiguity as to the rights of the Company in such Trade Secrets 
including, without limitation, providing to the Company Employee's full 
cooperation in any litigation or other proceeding to establish, protect, or 
obtain such rights.  Upon request by the Company, and in any event upon 
termination of Employee's employment by the Company for any reason, Executive 
shall promptly deliver to the Company all property belonging to the Company 
including, without limitation, all Trade Secrets (and all embodiments 
thereof) then in Employee's custody, control or possession.

             (c)  Employee agrees that all Trade Secrets of the Company 
received or developed by Employee as a result of Employee's employment with 
the Company will be held in trust and strictest confidence, that Employee 
will protect such Trade Secrets from disclosure, and that Employee will make 
no use of such Trade Secrets, except in connection with Employee's employment 
hereunder, without the Company's prior written consent.  The obligations of 
confidentiality contained in this Agreement will apply during Employee's 
employment by the Company and (i) with respect to all Trade Secrets 
consisting of scientific or technical data, at any and all times after 
expiration or termination (for whatever reason) of such employment; and (ii) 
with respect to all other Trade Secrets, for a period of two (2) years after 
such expiration or termination, unless a longer period of protection is 
provided by law.

     6.      NONCOMPETE; NONSOLICITATION COVENANTS.

             (a)  The following terms used in this Section 6 shall have the
definitions set forth 

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below:


                    (i)   "Affiliate" means any person or entity directly or
          indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
          Employee.  As used herein, the word "control" means the power to
          direct the management and affairs of a person.

                    (ii)  "Area" means all of North America.

                    (iii) "Competing Enterprise" means any person or any
          business organization of whatever form, engaged directly or indirectly
          within the Area in the Business of the Company.

               (b)  Employee covenants that Employee shall, during the term of 
this Agreement and for a period of one (1) year following the termination, for
whatever reason, of Employee's employment by the Company, observe the following
separate and independent covenants:

                    (i)   Neither Employee nor any Affiliate will, without the
          prior written consent of the Company, within the Area, either directly
          or indirectly, (A) become financially interested in a Competing
          Enterprise (other than as a holder of less than five percent of the
          outstanding voting securities of any entity whose voting securities
          are listed on a national securities exchange or quoted by the National
          Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. automated quotation system),
          or (B) engage in or be employed by any Competing Enterprise as a
          consultant, officer, director, or executive or managerial employee.

                    (ii)  Neither Employee nor any Affiliate will, without the
          prior written consent of the Company, either directly or indirectly, 
          on Employee's own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others,
          solicit, divert, or appropriate, or attempt to solicit, divert, or
          appropriate, to any Competing Enterprise within the Area, any person
          or entity whose account with the Company was serviced by or under
          Employee's direction or supervision during the term of this Agreement.

                    (iii) Neither Employee nor any Affiliate will, without
          the Company's prior written consent, either directly or indirectly, on
          Employee's own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, 
          solicit, divert, or hire away, or attempt to solicit, divert, or hire 
          away, to any Competing Enterprise, any person employed by the Company,
          whether or not such employee is a full-time or a temporary employee of
          the Company and whether or not such employment is pursuant to written 
          agreement and whether or not such employment is at will.

          7.   REMEDIES.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company is
engaged in the Business of the Company in and throughout the Area, and that by
virtue of the training, duties, and responsibilities attendant with Employee's
employment by the Company and the special knowledge of the business and
operations of the Company that Employee will have as a consequence of Employee's
employment by the Company, great loss and irreparable damage would be suffered
by the Company if the Employee should breach or violate any of the terms or
provisions of the covenants and agreements set forth herein.  Employee further
acknowledges and agrees that each such covenant and agreement is reasonably
necessary to protect and preserve the interest of the Company.  Therefore, in
addition to all the remedies provided at law or in equity, Employee agrees and
consents that the Company shall be entitled to a temporary restraining order and
a permanent 

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injunction to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of any of the covenants 
or agreements of Employee contained herein.  The existence of any claim, 
demand, action or cause of action of Employee against the Company shall not 
constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of any of the 
covenants or agreements herein whether predicated upon this Agreement or 
otherwise, and shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the 
Company of any of its rights hereunder.

     8.   GENERAL PROVISIONS.

          (a)  In the event that any one or more of the provisions, or parts of
any provisions, contained in the Agreement shall for any reason be held to be
invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent
jurisdiction, the same shall not invalidate or otherwise affect any other
provision hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid,
illegal, or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. 
Specifically, but without limiting the foregoing in any way, each of the
covenants of the parties to this Agreement contained herein shall be deemed and
shall be construed as a separate and independent covenant and should any part or
provision of any of such covenants be held or declared invalid by any court of
competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall in no way render invalid or
unenforceable any other part or provision thereof or any other covenant of the
parties not held or declared invalid.

          (b)  This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the Company
hereunder may be assigned by the Company to any subsidiary of or successor to
the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of, shall be binding upon, and shall
be enforceable by any such assignee, provided that any such assignee shall agree
to assume and be bound by this Agreement.  This Agreement and the rights and
obligations of Employee hereunder may not be assigned by Employee.

          (c)  The waiver by the Company of any breach of this Agreement by
Employee shall not be effective unless in writing, and no such waiver shall
operate or be construed as a waiver of the same or another breach on a
subsequent occasion.

          (d)  This Agreement and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida. 
The parties agree that any appropriate state court located in Hillsborough
County, Florida or any Federal Court located in Tampa, Florida shall have
exclusive jurisdiction of any case or controversy arising under or in connection
with this Agreement and shall be a proper forum in which to adjudicate such case
or controversy.  The parties consent to the jurisdiction of such courts.

          (e)  This Agreement embodies the entire agreement of the parties
relating to the employment of Employee by the Company.  No amendment or
modification of this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the Company or
Employee unless made in writing and signed by the parties.  All prior
understandings and agreements relating to the employment of Employee by the
Company (including the Prior Agreement) are hereby expressly terminated and
superseded.

          (f)  Any notice, request, demand, or other communication required to
be given hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be deemed to have been
fully given if personally delivered or if mailed by United States Mail,
certified or registered, postage prepaid, to the parties at the following
addresses (or at such other addresses as shall be given in writing by any party
to the other party hereto):

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          If to Employee:

               C. Stephen Gaffney
               3206 Chapin Avenue
               Tampa, Florida 33611

          If to Company:

               Ashley Aluminum, Inc. dba Cameron Ashley Building Products
               5120 W. Clifton
               Tampa, FL 33634

          (g)  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, and it shall not be necessary for
the same counterpart of this agreement be signed by all of the undersigned in
order for the agreements set forth herein to be binding upon all of the
undersigned in accordance with the terms hereof.

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have each executed and
delivered this Agreement as of the date first above written.

                              COMPANY:

                              ASHLEY ALUMINUM, INC. dba
                              Cameron Ashley Building Products


                              By: /s/ Ronald R. Ross   
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                              Ronald R. Ross, Director

                              Employee:


                                 /s/ C. Steven Gaffney 
                              -------------------------------------------------
                              C. Steven Gaffney


          
          

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