<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000805264-08-000003
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20081110
<FILING-DATE>20081112
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20081112
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>GEORGIA GULF CORP /DE/
<CIK>0000805264
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2810
<IRS-NUMBER>581563799
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>115 PERIMETER CENTER PLACE
<STREET2>STE. 460
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30346
<PHONE>7703954500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>115 PERIMETER CENTER PLACE
<STREET2>STE. 460
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30346
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FLEMING PATRICK J
<CIK>0001218441
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-09753
<FILM-NUMBER>081178464
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>GEORGIA GULF CORP
<STREET2>PO BOX 105197
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30349
<PHONE>770-395-4582
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>GEORGIA GULF CORP
<STREET2>PO BOX 105197
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30346
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000805264</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GEORGIA GULF CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ggc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218441</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FLEMING PATRICK J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GEORGIA GULF CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 105197</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30346</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>GGC Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.88</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9583</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Patrick J. Fleming</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
