Note 13 - Business Segment Information (Details) - Net Sales By Product Line (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Sales By Product Line	$ 363,896	$ 363,303	$ 336,909
Welded Wire Reinforcement [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Sales By Product Line	227,957	230,049	208,741
PC Strand [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Sales By Product Line	$ 135,939	$ 133,254	$ 128,168

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration