<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>0001188372</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>KOROLOGOS ANN MCLAUGHLIN</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></securityTitle><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">Ms. Korologos also holds 3,147.188 shares of common stock, 1,864.610 shares under the Deferred Stock Plan for Nonemployee Directors and 25,173.461 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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X0101
4
2003-06-02
0
0000103973
VULCAN MATERIALS CO
VMC
0001188372
KOROLOGOS ANN MCLAUGHLIN
1
0
0
0
Common Stock (Restricted Stock Units)
2003-06-02
4
A
0
1000
32.99
A
4639.351
D
Annual stock grant made to the reporting person under the Vulcan Materials Company Restricted Stock Plan for Nonemployee Directors.
Ms. Korologos also holds 3,147.188 shares of common stock, 1,864.610 shares under the Deferred Stock Plan for Nonemployee Directors and 25,173.461 phantom shares under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors.
Amy M. Tucker
2003-06-04