Note 18 - Quarterly Financial Information (amounts in thousands, except per share data) (Detail) - Quarterly financial information: (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues		$ 630,507	$ 501,156	$ 459,893
Gross profit	5,900	47,472	39,837	62,705
Income (loss) before income taxes and earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		17,133	(51,716)
Net income (loss) attributable to Sterling common stockholders	4,200	(297)	(35,900)	19,087
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders:
Basic (in Dollars per share)		$ (0.26)	$ (2.24)
Diluted (in Dollars per share)		$ (0.26)	$ (2.24)
March 31 [Member]
Revenues		98,425	99,242
Gross profit		1,873	7,599
Income (loss) before income taxes and earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		(3,781)	1,648
Net income (loss) attributable to Sterling common stockholders		(7,500)	44
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders:
Basic (in Dollars per share)		$ (0.44)	$ 0.00
Diluted (in Dollars per share)		$ (0.44)	$ 0.00
June 30 [Member]
Revenues		168,709	128,498
Gross profit		15,159	13,582
Income (loss) before income taxes and earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		8,652	7,437
Net income (loss) attributable to Sterling common stockholders		3,287	4,211
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders:
Basic (in Dollars per share)		$ 0.15	$ 0.26
Diluted (in Dollars per share)		$ 0.15	$ 0.25
September 30 [Member]
Revenues		205,284	159,427
Gross profit		14,170	14,756
Income (loss) before income taxes and earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		4,915	7,925
Net income (loss) attributable to Sterling common stockholders		990	3,461
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders:
Basic (in Dollars per share)		$ 0.01	$ 0.21
Diluted (in Dollars per share)		$ 0.01	$ 0.21
December 31 [Member]
Revenues		158,089	113,989
Gross profit		16,270	3,900
Income (loss) before income taxes and earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		7,347	(68,726)
Net income (loss) attributable to Sterling common stockholders		$ 2,926	$ (43,616)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders:
Basic (in Dollars per share)		$ 0.01	$ (2.72)
Diluted (in Dollars per share)		$ 0.01	$ (2.72)