Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Revenues	$ 132,468		$ 114,934		$ 238,071		$ 188,993
Cost of sales	(107,978)		(104,856)		(193,013)		(168,302)
Gross margin	24,490		10,078		45,058		20,691
Selling expenses	(10,199)		(11,170)		(19,551)		(19,388)
General and administrative expenses	(11,573)		(8,265)		(19,824)		(16,488)
Equity in (loss) income from joint ventures	317		(102)		384		(495)
Equity in (loss) income from subsidiaries	0		0		0		0
Loss on debt extinguishment	0		(88,384)		0		(88,384)
Interest expense	(5,909)	[1]	(4,375)	[1]	(12,197)	[1]	(8,326)	[1]
Other (expense) income, net	(8,398)		786		(6,092)		2,417
(Loss) income before income taxes	(11,272)		(101,432)		(12,222)		(109,973)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(848)		676		(96)		1,017
Net (loss) income	(12,120)		(100,756)		(12,318)		(108,956)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	19		(349)		(194)		(438)
Net (loss) income attributable to SHLP	(12,101)		(101,105)		(12,512)		(109,394)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(12,761)		(99,485)		(11,516)		(107,005)
SHLP Corp
Revenues	96,466	[2]	85,486	[3]	164,252	[2]	146,273	[3]
Cost of sales	(80,318)	[2]	(81,213)	[3]	(134,524)	[2]	(133,735)	[3]
Gross margin	16,148	[2]	4,273	[3]	29,728	[2]	12,538	[3]
Selling expenses	(6,234)	[2]	(6,945)	[3]	(11,613)	[2]	(12,284)	[3]
General and administrative expenses	(7,995)	[2]	(6,241)	[3]	(13,599)	[2]	(12,436)	[3]
Equity in (loss) income from joint ventures	10	[2]	(224)	[3]	139	[2]	(426)	[3]
Equity in (loss) income from subsidiaries	(6,541)	[2]	1,242	[3]	(2,790)	[2]	1,013	[3]
Loss on debt extinguishment			(88,384)	[3]			(88,384)	[3]
Interest expense	(5,511)	[2]	(4,000)	[3]	(11,469)	[2]	(7,739)	[3]
Other (expense) income, net	(1,977)	[2]	(826)	[3]	(2,903)	[2]	(1,673)	[3]
(Loss) income before income taxes	(12,100)	[2]	(101,105)	[3]	(12,507)	[2]	(109,391)	[3]
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1)	[2]	0	[3]	(5)	[2]	(3)	[3]
Net (loss) income	(12,101)	[2]	(101,105)	[3]	(12,512)	[2]	(109,394)	[3]
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	[2]	0	[3]	0	[2]	0	[3]
Net (loss) income attributable to SHLP	(12,101)	[2]	(101,105)	[3]	(12,512)	[2]	(109,394)	[3]
Comprehensive (loss) income	(12,742)	[2]	(99,834)	[3]	(11,710)	[2]	(107,443)	[3]
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues	34,700		28,158		71,027		38,867
Cost of sales	(27,496)		(22,935)		(58,203)		(32,186)
Gross margin	7,204		5,223		12,824		6,681
Selling expenses	(2,839)		(3,081)		(5,831)		(4,676)
General and administrative expenses	(2,979)		(1,467)		(5,030)		(2,954)
Equity in (loss) income from joint ventures	(7)		22		(31)		15
Equity in (loss) income from subsidiaries	(9,534)		(680)		(10,387)		(1,412)
Loss on debt extinguishment			0				0
Interest expense	(398)		(375)		(724)		(587)
Other (expense) income, net	1,368		1,248		3,213		2,926
(Loss) income before income taxes	(7,185)		890		(5,966)		(7)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(838)		680		(86)		1,034
Net (loss) income	(8,023)		1,570		(6,052)		1,027
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income attributable to SHLP	(8,023)		1,570		(6,052)		1,027
Comprehensive (loss) income	(8,664)		2,841		(5,250)		2,978
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Revenues	1,302		1,290		2,792		3,853
Cost of sales	(259)		(803)		(445)		(2,524)
Gross margin	1,043		487		2,347		1,329
Selling expenses	(1,126)		(1,144)		(2,107)		(2,428)
General and administrative expenses	(599)		(557)		(1,195)		(1,098)
Equity in (loss) income from joint ventures	314		100		276		(84)
Equity in (loss) income from subsidiaries	(1,166)		(108)		(2,443)		(815)
Loss on debt extinguishment			0				0
Interest expense	0		0		(4)		0
Other (expense) income, net	(7,694)		459		(6,243)		1,307
(Loss) income before income taxes	(9,228)		(763)		(9,369)		(1,789)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(9)		(4)		(5)		(14)
Net (loss) income	(9,237)		(767)		(9,374)		(1,803)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	19		(349)		(194)		(438)
Net (loss) income attributable to SHLP	(9,218)		(1,116)		(9,568)		(2,241)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(9,237)		(767)		(9,374)		(1,803)
Consolidation, Eliminations
Revenues	0		0		0		0
Cost of sales	95		95		159		143
Gross margin	95		95		159		143
Selling expenses	0		0		0		0
General and administrative expenses	0		0		0		0
Equity in (loss) income from joint ventures	0		0		0		0
Equity in (loss) income from subsidiaries	17,241		(454)		15,620		1,214
Loss on debt extinguishment			0				0
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Other (expense) income, net	(95)		(95)		(159)		(143)
(Loss) income before income taxes	17,241		(454)		15,620		1,214
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income	17,241		(454)		15,620		1,214
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income attributable to SHLP	17,241		(454)		15,620		1,214
Comprehensive (loss) income	$ 17,882		$ (1,725)		$ 14,818		$ (737)

[1] For the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, assets qualifying for interest capitalization was less than debt; therefore, non-qualifying interest was expensed.

[2] Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp.; no significant activity occurred in 2012.

[3] Includes Shea Homes Funding Corp. since inception on April 26, 2011; no significant activity occurred for the financial statement period presented above.