-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DBAm+kiqx0B3WtXDl0HRGDdJ10sKufs9Cc57dMlXEKRQOUJare/xpeReoNpDcVWB
 CZH9ehk/pUVZvid9ZApIfw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001219870-03-000160.txt : 20030623
<SEC-HEADER>0001219870-03-000160.hdr.sgml : 20030623
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030623102146
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001219870-03-000160
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030620
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030623

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 NEIL E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000942070

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22462
		FILM NUMBER:		03752624

	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 CORP
		STREET 2:		3556 LAKE SHORE RD 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>2003-06-20</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000942070</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIPKE NEIL E</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>2003-06-20</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>2000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>20</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>896002</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By Trust</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-20</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>396</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>20</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>127544</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>Rush Creek Investment Co., LP</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </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 shares 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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents the pecuniary interest of reporting person in the shares of Gibraltar Steel Corporation common stock held by Rush Creek Investment Co., LP.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial interest in such shares, except to the extent of his beneficial interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">80,755 shares of common stock held directly.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">7,005 shares held by trust for the benefit of a child (Katherine Victoria) 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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">6,700 shares held by trust for the benefit of a child (Kenneth E. 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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">90,880 shares held by trust for the benefit of insiders 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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">5,800 shares held by trust for the benefit of a child (Erica Rae) 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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">5,940 shares held by trust for the benefit of a child (Elissa Kristina) of an insider of Gibraltar Steel Corporation, of 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.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">1,283.47 shares held in Gibraltar Steel Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan f/b/o reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Neil E. Lipke</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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