-----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,
 IUxZuMGJMaOxDJJYi0lfdRpLTwRgH42pxLMK8d3/4mkqu1+sULauSqM+Iv2VPvQj
 lGcPdUg7Y+qe27Y6FDLu2Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001003344-09-000026.txt : 20090504
<SEC-HEADER>0001003344-09-000026.hdr.sgml : 20090504
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090504185837
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001003344-09-000026
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090430
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090504
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090504

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENSON KIRK A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001077606

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32459
		FILM NUMBER:		09794998

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10653 S. RIVER FRONT PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			SOUTH JORDAN
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84043

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEADWATERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001003344
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS OF PETROLEUM &  COAL [2990]
		IRS NUMBER:				870547337
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10653 SOUTH RIVERFRONT PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			SOUTH JORDAN
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84095
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8019849400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10653 SOUTH RIVERFRONT PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			SOUTH JORDAN
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84095

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COVOL TECHNOLOGIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19951113
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-04-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001003344</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEADWATERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001077606</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BENSON KIRK A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10653 S. RIVERFRONT PARKWAY, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH JORDAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84095</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.52</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>390288</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-04-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-04-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>390288</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>390288</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vesting of these awards is subject to achievement of certain financial performance criteria by the issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kirk A. Benson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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