-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HbAQ2ZDULL58vAR9N3e5+yBFANqF3TSBloMilVHgs3Nw0xfct7w5WUooSnkgf+55
 eKmQGfueP7PToZx5mUuskA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001219870-03-000071.txt : 20030529
<SEC-HEADER>0001219870-03-000071.hdr.sgml : 20030529
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030529145010
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001219870-03-000071
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030528
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030529

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GIBRALTAR STEEL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912562
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES & ROLLING & FINISHING MILLS [3310]
		IRS NUMBER:				161445150
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3556 LAKE SHORE ROAD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 2028
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14219-0228
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7168266500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GATEWAY EXECUTIVE PARK
		STREET 2:		3556 LAKE SHORE ROAD PO BOX 2028
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14219-0228

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIPKE PATRICIA K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000942881

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22462
		FILM NUMBER:		03723286

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O V ASSOCIATES LTD
		STREET 2:		75 ELMVIEW
		CITY:			HAMBURG
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14075
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7163120601

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GIBRALTAR STEEL
		STREET 2:		3556 SHORE RD PO BOX 2028
		CITY:			BUFFALO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14219-0228
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-28</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912562</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GIBRALTAR STEEL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>Rock</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000942881</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIPKE PATRICIA K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Trustee</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-28</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>2.25</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>20</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>4900.5</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>Rush Creek Investment Co., LP</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sale of securities pursuant to a pre-arranged stock trading plan established pursuant to Rule 10b5-1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the reporting person's pecuniary interest in the shares of Gibraltar Steel Corporation common stock held by Rush Creek Investment Company, LP.  The reporting person has a 75% interest in Rush Creek Management, Inc., the General Partner of the Limited Partnership. The reporting person disclaims any beneficial interest in such shares, except to the extent of her pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">1,465 common shares owned directly.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">61,085 common shares held by Trust created under Last Will and Testament of Kenneth E. Lipke for the benefit of reporting person as to which Trust reporting person serves as one of three trustees and shares voting and investment power.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">5,605 common shares held by trust for the benefit of a child of an insider of Gibraltar Steel Corporation, of which the reporting person serves as one of four trustees and shares voting and investment power and as to which shares she disclaims beneficial ownership.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Patricia K. Lipke</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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