-----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,
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 hDBlVuX/9t1jsvaHqIGiMg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001219870-03-000232.txt : 20030722
<SEC-HEADER>0001219870-03-000232.hdr.sgml : 20030722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030722131142
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001219870-03-000232
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIPKE BRIAN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000942075

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22462
		FILM NUMBER:		03796037

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 ELMVIEW AVENUE
		CITY:			HAMBURG
		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

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
</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>0000942075</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIPKE BRIAN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</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>7.47</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>18.76</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>3706.07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </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="F6"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>10</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F8"/>
        </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>1995-11-01</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2004-10-31</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>15000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>21.75</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F8"/>
        </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>25000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F7"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>22.5</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F8"/>
        </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>1999-03-27</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2008-03-27</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>0</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>50000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F7"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>14.07</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F8"/>
        </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>12500</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the net effect of shares purchased and solf 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 51,965 shares directly; 892,002 shares indirectly held by a trust for the benefit of reporting person of which he serves as one of three trustees and shares voting and investment power; 3,137,915 shares indirectly held by four trusts for the benefit of insiders of Gibraltar Steel Corporation, each of which the reporting person serves as one of three trustees and shares voting and investment power and as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership; 7,005 shares indirectly held by a trust for the benefit of reporting person's daughter (Katherine Victoria); 5,605 shares indirectly held by trust for the benefit of a child (Carlisle Lipke-Ricci) of an insider of Gibraltar Steel Corporation, which the reporting person serves as one of four trustees and shares voting and investment power and as to which shares he disclaims beneficial ownership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting person owns 6,700 shares indirectly held by trust for the benefit of a child (Kenneth Eric Lipke) of an insider of Gibraltar Steel Corporation, which the reporting person serves as one of three trustees and shares voting and investment power and as to which shares he disclaims beneficial ownership; 3,480 shares indirectly held by reporting person as custodian for daughter under UGMANY; 61,085 shares indirectly held by trust created under the Last Will and Testament of Kenneth E. Lipke for the benefit of reporting person's mother as to which trust reporting person serves as one of three trustees and shares voting and investment power; 60,880 shares indirectly held by trust for the benefit of reporting person of which the reporting person serves as one of five trustees and shares voting and investment power.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Reporting person owns 30,000 shares indirectly held by trust for the benefit of an insider of Gibraltar Steel Corporation, of which the reporting person serves as one of five trustees and shares voting and investment power, and as to which shares he disclaims beneficial ownership; 5,800 shares indirectly held by trust for the benefit of a child (Erica Rae Lipke) of an insider of Gibraltar Steel Corporation, which the reporting person serves as one of three trustees and shares voting and investment power and as to which shares he disclaims beneficial ownership; 5,940 shares indirectly held by trust for the benefit of reporting person's daughter (Elissa Kristina); 1,385 shares indirectly held by reporting person as custodian for realtive under UGMANY (Jonathon Solomon).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Reporting person owns 129,821 shares indirectly 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 his beneficial interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">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="F7">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="F8">Dummy date used for reporting holdings.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Brian J. Lipke</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----