Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	CECO	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 61,994	$ 171	$ 54,800	$ 9,691	$ (2,312)	$ (356)	$ 61,994
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012		17,096,000				(138,000)
Net (loss) income	6,557			6,557			6,557
Common stock dividends	(4,337)			(4,337)			(4,337)
Exercise of stock options and dividend reinvestment issuances	$ 1,364	$ 3	1,361				1,364
Exercise of stock options and dividend reinvestment issuances, Shares	316,000	316,000
Share based compensation earned	$ 1,100		1,100				1,100
Share based compensation earned, Shares		3,000
Stock repurchase and retirement	(2,365)	$ (2)	(2,363)				(2,365)
Stock repurchase and retirement, Shares		(180,000)
Stock issued for acquisitions	104,753	$ 85	104,668				104,753
Stock issued for acquisitions, Shares		8,490,000
Minimum pension/postretirement liability adjustment	1,362				1,362		1,362
Translation (loss) gain	(22)				(22)		(22)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	170,406	$ 257	159,566	11,911	(972)	$ (356)	170,406
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013		25,725,000				(138,000)
Translation (loss) gain, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012	(124)
Translation (loss) gain, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	(146)
Minimum pension/post retirement liability adjustment beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012	(2,188)
Minimum pension/post retirement liability adjustment, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	(826)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012	(2,312)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, activity	1,340
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	(972)
Net (loss) income	13,077			13,077			13,077
Common stock dividends	(5,937)			(5,937)			(5,937)
Exercise of stock options and dividend reinvestment issuances	$ 1,383	$ 3	1,380				1,383
Exercise of stock options and dividend reinvestment issuances, Shares	239,000	247,000
Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised	$ 923		923				923
Share based compensation earned	1,659		1,659				1,659
Share based compensation earned, Shares		7,000
Stock repurchase and retirement	(973)	$ (1)	(972)				(973)
Stock repurchase and retirement, Shares		(61,500)
Stock issued for acquisitions	6,335	$ 5	6,330				6,335
Stock issued for acquisitions, Shares		488,000
Minimum pension/postretirement liability adjustment	(4,052)				(4,052)		(4,052)
Translation (loss) gain	(1,597)				(1,597)		(1,597)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	181,224	$ 264	168,886	19,051	(6,621)	$ (356)	181,224
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2014		26,405,000				(138,000)
Translation (loss) gain, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	(1,743)
Minimum pension/post retirement liability adjustment, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	(4,878)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, activity	(5,649)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	(6,621)
Net (loss) income	(5,734)			(5,602)			(5,602)	$ (132)
Common stock dividends	(7,977)			(7,977)			(7,977)
Exercise of stock options and dividend reinvestment issuances	$ 205		205				205
Exercise of stock options and dividend reinvestment issuances, Shares	30,000	36,000
Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised	$ 44		44				44
Share based compensation earned	2,070		2,070				2,070
Share based compensation earned, Shares		13,000
Stock repurchase and retirement, Shares		0
Stock issued for acquisitions	72,145	$ 76	72,069				72,145
Stock issued for acquisitions, Shares		7,602,000
Minimum pension/postretirement liability adjustment	(292)				(292)		(292)
Translation (loss) gain	(2,664)				(2,664)		(2,664)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	245,021	$ 340	$ 243,274	$ 5,472	$ (9,577)	$ (356)	$ 239,153	5,868
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2015		34,056,000				(138,000)
Fair value of noncontrolling interest acquired	6,000							$ 6,000
Translation (loss) gain, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	(4,407)
Minimum pension/post retirement liability adjustment, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	(5,170)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, activity	(2,956)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ (9,577)