CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total
Balances at Sep. 30, 2011	$ 61	$ 637,547	$ (580,861)	$ (11)	$ 56,736
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2011	60,947
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock purchase plan	0	635			635
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	212
Issuance of restricted stock, net of cancellations	0				0
Issuance of restricted stock, net of cancellations (in shares)	(13)
Stock-based compensation		1,737			1,737
24, net 41, and net 4 share increase (decrease) in treasury stock held for deferred compensation plan obligations, at cost for the years 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively		128		(128)	0
Adjustment of estimated redemption value of non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary					0
Other				11	11
Net income (loss) attributable to Headwaters Incorporated			(62,248)		(62,248)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2012	61	640,047	(643,109)	(128)	(3,129)
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012	61,146
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs of $5,418	12	77,945			77,957
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs (in shares)	11,500				11,500
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock purchase plan	0	742			742
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	101
Exercise of stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units	0				0
Exercise of stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units (in shares)	250
Issuance of restricted stock, net of cancellations	0				0
Issuance of restricted stock, net of cancellations (in shares)	152
Stock-based compensation		1,703			1,703
24, net 41, and net 4 share increase (decrease) in treasury stock held for deferred compensation plan obligations, at cost for the years 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively		391		(391)	0
Adjustment of estimated redemption value of non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary					0
Net income (loss) attributable to Headwaters Incorporated			7,137		7,137
Balances at Sep. 30, 2013	73	720,828	(635,972)	(519)	84,410
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013	73,149
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock purchase plan	1	758			759
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	78
Exercise of stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units	0				0
Exercise of stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units (in shares)	133
Issuance of restricted stock, net of cancellations	0				0
Issuance of restricted stock, net of cancellations (in shares)	150
Stock-based compensation		2,165			2,165
24, net 41, and net 4 share increase (decrease) in treasury stock held for deferred compensation plan obligations, at cost for the years 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively		73		(73)	0
Adjustment of estimated redemption value of non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary		(176)			(176)
Net income (loss) attributable to Headwaters Incorporated			15,284		15,284
Balances at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 74	$ 723,648	$ (620,688)	$ (592)	$ 102,442
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2014	73,510