<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>0001204574</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ROSENWALD BRADLEY C</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>PRES  CHLORALKA</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Performance Share Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3100</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>37.305</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3100</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3100</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Performance Share Units vest at January 1 following a three-year award period.  At the end of the award period, the Compensation Committee determines the payment amount based on Company performance.  The payment is made 50% in stock and 50% in cash on a payment date determined by the Compensation Committee.  The fair market value of the award is not determinable until the payment date.</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
0001204574
ROSENWALD BRADLEY C
0
1
0
0
PRES  CHLORALKA
Performance Share Units
0
2003-06-02
4
A
0
3100
37.305
A
2006-01-01
1988-08-08
Common Stock
3100
3100
D
Performance Share Units vest at January 1 following a three-year award period.  At the end of the award period, the Compensation Committee determines the payment amount based on Company performance.  The payment is made 50% in stock and 50% in cash on a payment date determined by the Compensation Committee.  The fair market value of the award is not determinable until the payment date.
Amy M. Tucker
2003-06-04