Supplemental Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	$ (14,626)	$ (12,687)
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations		(7)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(14,626)	(12,694)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(4,056)	(1,979)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	137	127
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,919)	(1,852)
Long-term debt payments	(2)	(204,678)
Proceeds from long-term debt		210,000
Payment of note redemption fees		(3,702)
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices	(408)	(636)
Payment of deferred financing costs		(3,711)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	365	327
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation	91	83
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	46	(2,317)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(354)	(877)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(18,853)	(17,740)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	97,039	48,028
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	78,186	30,288
Gibraltar Industries, Inc. [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	(6,639)	(2,878)
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(6,639)	(2,878)
Long-term debt payments		(204,000)
Proceeds from long-term debt		210,000
Payment of note redemption fees		(3,702)
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices	(408)	(636)
Payment of deferred financing costs		(3,705)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	365	327
Intercompany financing	6,591	4,511
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation	91	83
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	6,639	2,878
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	(8,985)	(10,125)
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations		(7)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(8,985)	(10,132)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(2,474)	(1,641)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	135	127
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,339)	(1,514)
Long-term debt payments	(2)	(678)
Payment of deferred financing costs		(6)
Intercompany financing	(6,929)	(4,458)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(6,931)	(5,142)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(18,255)	(16,788)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	75,856	26,163
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	57,601	9,375
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	998	316
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	998	316
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(1,582)	(338)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,580)	(338)
Intercompany financing	338	(53)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	338	(53)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(354)	(877)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(598)	(952)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	21,183	21,865
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	20,585	20,913
Eliminations [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment
Net cash used in investing activities
Long-term debt payments
Proceeds from long-term debt
Payment of note redemption fees
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices
Payment of deferred financing costs
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
Intercompany financing
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period