Note 1 - Description of Business (Detail) - Business Acquisitions - Continued Purchase Price Allocation (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended																							12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Receivables and Cost and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings [Member] Hockway [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Receivables and Cost and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings [Member] Fyfe LA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Receivables and Cost and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings [Member] Fyfe Asia [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Inventories [Member] Hockway [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member] Fyfe NA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] CRTS [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] Fyfe NA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Identified Intangible Assets [Member] CRTS [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Identified Intangible Assets [Member] Fyfe NA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Identified Intangible Assets [Member] Fyfe LA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Identified Intangible Assets [Member] Fyfe Asia [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Billings in Excess of Cost and Estimated Earnings [Member] CRTS [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Billings in Excess of Cost and Estimated Earnings [Member] Hockway [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Billings in Excess of Cost and Estimated Earnings [Member] Fyfe NA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Billings in Excess of Cost and Estimated Earnings [Member] Fyfe LA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Billings in Excess of Cost and Estimated Earnings [Member] Fyfe Asia [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Long-term Liabilities and Deferred Taxes [Member] CRTS [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Long-term Liabilities and Deferred Taxes [Member] Hockway [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Long-term Liabilities and Deferred Taxes [Member] Fyfe LA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Long-term Liabilities and Deferred Taxes [Member] Fyfe Asia [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 CRTS [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 CRTS [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 CRTS [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Hockway [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Hockway [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Hockway [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Fyfe NA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fyfe NA [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Fyfe NA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Fyfe LA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fyfe LA [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 Fyfe LA [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Fyfe Asia [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Fyfe Asia [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Fyfe Asia [Member]
Total identifiable net assets																					$ 19,883		$ 18,681	$ 4,551		$ 4,485	$ 69,704		$ 75,074	$ 2,453		$ 1,719	$ 21,369		$ 20,342
Goodwill																					18,017		20,079	1,524		521	46,082		43,044	1,716		2,450	19,348		19,802
Increase (decrease) in goodwill related to acquisitions	(61)	(381)	(573)	(64)	738	4,033	(85)	(3,105)	5,633	237	(1,770)	(300)	(30)	(916)	(284)	1,023	(1,830)	89	(306)	293	2,062	1,600		(1,003)	1,500		(3,038)	200		734	700		454	500
Total identifiable net assets																					18,681	19,883	18,681	4,485	4,551	4,485	75,074	69,704	75,074	1,719	2,453	1,719	20,342	21,369	20,342
Goodwill																					$ 20,079	$ 18,017	$ 20,079	$ 521	$ 1,524	$ 521	$ 43,044	$ 46,082	$ 43,044	$ 2,450	$ 1,716	$ 2,450	$ 19,802	$ 19,348	$ 19,802