Supplemental Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	$ 49,828,000	$ 47,191,000	$ 88,869,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	(3,133,000)	22,178,000	42,250,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	46,695,000	69,369,000	131,119,000
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(109,248,000)		(4,949,000)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(11,552,000)	(8,362,000)	(9,791,000)
Purchase of equity method investment	(250,000)	(1,250,000)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,226,000	221,000	292,000
Net proceeds from sale of businesses	67,529,000	29,164,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations	(52,295,000)	19,773,000	(14,448,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations	2,089,000	(384,000)	(1,015,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(50,206,000)	19,389,000	(15,463,000)
Long-term debt payments	(74,262,000)	(58,967,000)	(182,401,000)
Proceeds from long-term debt	73,849,000	8,559,000	83,022,000
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices	(826,000)	(1,114,000)	(634,000)
Payment of deferred financing fees	(1,570,000)	(164,000)	(2,383,000)
Payment of dividends			(1,499,000)
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation		54,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	34,000	270,000	47,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(2,775,000)	(51,362,000)	(103,848,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(463,000)	(126,000)	480,000
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(6,749,000)	37,270,000	12,288,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	60,866,000	23,596,000	11,308,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	54,117,000	60,866,000	23,596,000
Gibraltar Industries, Inc. [Member]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	(15,876,000)	(15,397,000)	(15,384,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(15,876,000)	(15,397,000)	(15,384,000)
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices	(826,000)	(1,114,000)	(634,000)
Payment of dividends			(1,499,000)
Intercompany financing	16,668,000	16,187,000	17,470,000
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation		54,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	34,000	270,000	47,000
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	15,876,000	15,397,000	15,384,000
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	56,841,000	57,167,000	96,217,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	(3,181,000)	21,466,000	41,430,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	53,660,000	78,633,000	137,647,000
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(109,248,000)		(4,949,000)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(11,033,000)	(7,694,000)	(8,905,000)
Purchase of equity method investment	(250,000)	(1,250,000)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,085,000	217,000	265,000
Net proceeds from sale of businesses	67,529,000	29,164,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations	(51,917,000)	20,437,000	(13,589,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations	2,089,000	(384,000)	(1,015,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(49,828,000)	20,053,000	(14,604,000)
Long-term debt payments	(74,262,000)	(58,967,000)	(182,401,000)
Proceeds from long-term debt	73,849,000	8,559,000	83,022,000
Payment of deferred financing fees	(1,570,000)	(164,000)	(2,383,000)
Intercompany financing	(13,507,000)	(11,870,000)	(12,957,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(15,490,000)	(62,442,000)	(114,719,000)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(11,658,000)	36,244,000	8,324,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	46,349,000	10,105,000	1,781,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	34,691,000	46,349,000	10,105,000
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	8,863,000	5,421,000	8,036,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	48,000	712,000	820,000
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	8,911,000	6,133,000	8,856,000
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(519,000)	(668,000)	(886,000)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	141,000	4,000	27,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations	(378,000)	(664,000)	(859,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(378,000)	(664,000)	(859,000)
Intercompany financing	(3,161,000)	(4,317,000)	(4,513,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,161,000)	(4,317,000)	(4,513,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(463,000)	(126,000)	480,000
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	4,909,000	1,026,000	3,964,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	14,517,000	13,491,000	9,527,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	19,426,000	14,517,000	13,491,000
Eliminations [Member]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment
Purchase of equity method investment
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment
Net proceeds from sale of businesses
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Long-term debt payments
Proceeds from long-term debt
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices
Payment of deferred financing fees
Payment of dividends
Intercompany financing
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year