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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,
 B2MUYnqphrVOCV2gN38yAtwwkxgM9AoDke9M21mcCn3jDpKMK4EOl8eF9qkrjuPe
 2xwrcRbpMAW8rglAKQ3TJQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000103973-03-000158.txt : 20030723
<SEC-HEADER>0000103973-03-000158.hdr.sgml : 20030723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030604102834
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000103973-03-000158
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030604

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NAPIER JAMES V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188422

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04033
		FILM NUMBER:		03731475

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3355 LENOX ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 750
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			2Q
		ZIP:			30326

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VULCAN MATERIALS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000103973
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MINING, QUARRYING OF NONMETALLIC MINERALS (NO FUELS) [1400]
		IRS NUMBER:				630366371
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 URBAN CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35242
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2052983000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 385014
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35238-5014
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001188422d20030604f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000103973</issuerCik><issuerName>VULCAN MATERIALS CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>VMC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001188422</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>NAPIER JAMES V</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock (Restricted Stock Units)</value></securityTitl
e><transactionDate><value>2003-06-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>32.99</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4639.351</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Annual stock grant made to the reporting person under the Vulcan Materials Company Restricted Stock Plan 
for Nonemployee Directors.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Mr. Napier also holds 1,864.610 shares under the Deferred Stock Plan for Nonemployee Directors and 7,945.104 phantom shares under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Amy M. Tucker</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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