CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 202,332	$ 179,725	$ 420,750	$ 379,322
Cost of revenue:
Total cost of revenue	147,455	132,584	301,602	276,494
Gross profit	54,877	47,141	119,148	102,828
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	37,882	34,351	72,764	66,380
Amortization	4,815	4,560	9,381	9,046
Total operating expenses	42,697	38,911	82,145	75,426
Operating income (loss)	12,180	8,230	37,003	27,402
Other income (expense):
Net interest expense	(8,056)	(35,965)	(16,273)	(47,917)
Other, net	(12)	(33)	(81)	(302)
Total other income (expense), net	(8,068)	(35,998)	(16,354)	(48,219)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	4,112	(27,768)	20,649	(20,817)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(1,500)	2,780	(5,100)	2,980
Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,612	(24,988)	15,549	(17,837)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(228)	(210)	(444)	(277)
Net income (loss)	2,384	(25,198)	15,105	(18,114)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest	(283)	(259)	(579)	(504)
Net income (loss) attributable to Headwaters Incorporated	$ 2,101	$ (25,457)	$ 14,526	$ (18,618)
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Headwaters Incorporated:
From continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ (0.34)	$ 0.21	$ (0.25)
From discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	(0.01)	0.00
Basic income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	0.03	(0.34)	0.20	(0.25)
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Headwaters Incorporated:
From continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.03	(0.34)	0.20	(0.25)
From discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	(0.01)	0.00
Diluted income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ (0.34)	$ 0.19	$ (0.25)
Building products
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 129,195	$ 106,406	$ 261,040	$ 223,940
Cost of revenue:
Total cost of revenue	93,174	79,481	186,333	163,673
Construction materials
Revenue:
Revenue	71,755	67,498	157,753	148,902
Cost of revenue:
Total cost of revenue	53,812	50,738	114,482	110,249
Energy technology
Revenue:
Revenue	1,382	5,821	1,957	6,480
Cost of revenue:
Total cost of revenue	$ 469	$ 2,365	$ 787	$ 2,572