-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LPhitP/iKX7QWRehMb3l382ppbttUyNVctkeW6j0LsKNiV5zaieqJgHzUTkwC2oT
 cD+f9C0kxVEwmp/o4Jvqjw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001219870-03-000229.txt : 20030722
<SEC-HEADER>0001219870-03-000229.hdr.sgml : 20030722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030722105112
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001219870-03-000229
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030722

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 MEREDITH A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000942078

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22462
		FILM NUMBER:		03795704

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3556 LAKE SHORE RD
		STREET 2:		P O 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>2003-07-21</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000942078</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIPKE MEREDITH A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-21</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1.41</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>18.76</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>627.13</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>Gibraltar Steel Corporation 401(k) Plan</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>21.75</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1998-07-08</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2007-07-08</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2500</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>15.625</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1999-10-08</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2008-10-07</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2500</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>14.07</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-07-18</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-07-18</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2500</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the net effect of shares purchased and sold from April 1, 2003 through June 30, 2003 pursuant to the Gibraltar Steel Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan at an average price of 18.76 per share.  The information reported herein is based on a Plan Statement dated July 17, 2002.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reporting person owns 7,105 shares directly; 5,325 shares held by reporting person's daughter under UGMANY; 5,605 shares held by a trust for the benefit of the reporting person's daughter of which trust the reporting person serves as one of four trustees and shares voting and investment power; 752,956 shares held by a trust for the benefit of the reporting person, of which she serves as one of three trustees and shares voting and investment power; 29,080 shares held by trust for the benefit of reporting person; 30,000 shares held by trust for the benefit of the reporting person of which trust she serves as one of five trustees and shares voting and investment power; 60,880 shares held by trust for the benefit of an insider of Gibraltar Steel Corporation of which trust reporting person serves as one of five trustees and shares voting and investment power and as to which shares she disclaims beneficial ownership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">129,821 representing the reporting person's pecuniary interest in the shares of Gibraltar Steel Corporation common stock held by Rush Creek Investment Co., L.P. The reporting person disclaims beneficial interest in such shares, except to the extent of her beneficial interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Grant to reporting person of option to buy shares of common stock under the Gibraltar Steel Corporation Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.  The options are exercisable at the rate of 25% per year.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Grant to reporting person of option to buy shares of common stock under the Gibraltar STeel Corporation Incentive Stock Option Plan.  The options are exercisable at the rate of 25% per year.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Dummy date used to report holdings.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Meredith A. Lipke</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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