<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000837173</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WALTER INDUSTRIES INC /NEW/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000901651</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KKR ASSOCIATES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, SUITE 4200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205970</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GREENE JAMES H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, SUITE 4200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001081714</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KRAVIS HENRY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, SUITE 4200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192062</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RAETHER PAUL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, SUITE 4200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001081715</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBERTS GEORGE R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, SUITE 4200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206581</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOLKIN PERRY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, SUITE 4200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001081716</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STUART SCOTT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, SUITE 4200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206780</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GILHULY EDWARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, SUITE 4200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182415</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MICHELSON MICHAEL W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS &amp; CO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, SUITE 4200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4374755</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1092488</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Notes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.1575</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3490206</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>871594</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                    <value>See Notes</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>871594</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.1575</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Notes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold pursuant to a registered offering.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are directly owned by JWC Associates, L.P. (&quot;JWC&quot;).  KKR Associates, L.P. (&quot;KKR Associates&quot;) is the general partner of JWC and in such capacity may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock owned by JWC, but disclaims such beneficial ownership, except to the extent of its economic interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Messrs. Henry R. Kravis, George R. Roberts, Michael W. Michelson, Paul E. Raether, James H. Greene, Jr., Perry Golkin, Scott M. Stuart and Edward A. Gilhuly are the general partners of KKR Associates, and in such capacity, may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock that are owned or may be deemed to be owned by KKR Associates; however, each disclaims such beneficial ownership, except to the extent of his economic interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares sold to the Issuer pursuant to a Stock Repurchase Agreement dated October 28, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These shares are directly owned by JWC Associates II, L.P. (&quot;JWC II&quot;).  KKR Associates is the general partner of JWC II and in such capacity may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock owned by JWC II, but disclaims such beneficial ownership, except to the extent of its economic interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">These shares are directly owned by KKR Partners II, L.P. (&quot;KKR Partners&quot;).  KKR Associates is the general partner of KKR Partners and in such capacity may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock owned by KKR Partners, but disclaims such beneficial ownership, except to the extent of its economic interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">These shares are directly owned by Channel One Associates, L.P. (&quot;Channel One&quot;). KKR Associates is the general partner of Channel One and in such capacity may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock owned by Channel One, but disclaims such beneficial ownership, except to the extent of its economic interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>One of the Reporting Persons, Perry Golkin, is also a director of the Issuer.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard J. Kreider, Attorney-in-Fact for all reporting persons.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

