Schedule I (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 27, 2013	Jun. 28, 2013	Mar. 29, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 28, 2012	Jun. 29, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Condensed Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0
Interest and other payables	26,366				30,667				26,366	30,667
Amounts due to affiliates	0				0				0	0
Total liabilities	680,536				680,414				680,536	680,414
Class A common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, 194,852 issued and outstanding in 2013 and 188,938 issued and outstanding in 2012	195				189				195	189
Class B convertible restricted voting common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, no shares issued in 2013 and 2012	0				0				0	0
Additional paid-in capital	724,071				721,869				724,071	721,869
Accumulated loss	(843,750)				(818,855)				(843,750)	(818,855)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	10,921				10,805				10,921	10,805
Total shareholders' (deficit) equity	(108,563)				(85,992)				(108,563)	(85,992)
Total liabilities and shareholders' (deficit) equity	(571,973)				(594,422)				(571,973)	(594,422)
Condensed Income Statement [Abstract]
General and administrative									75,428	83,492	91,421
Interest expense									(54,078)	(54,858)	(55,579)
Operating Income (Loss)	(4,121)	8,687	9,884	(7,432)	(3,034)	6,610	8,065	(286)	7,018	11,355	10,294
Provision for income taxes									(14,761)	(1,723)	3,315
Net loss	(11,482)	16,259	(1,556)	(28,116)	(11,881)	(1,175)	(15,592)	(8,120)	(24,895)	(36,768)	(62,717)
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Operations [Abstract]
Net loss	(11,482)	16,259	(1,556)	(28,116)	(11,881)	(1,175)	(15,592)	(8,120)	(24,895)	(36,768)	(62,717)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(815)	80	2,380
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									931	953	(5,837)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)									116	1,033	(3,457)
Total comprehensive loss									(24,779)	(35,735)	(66,174)
Condensed Statement of Cash Flow [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									(10,315)	3,985	18,596
Net cash provided by investing activities									(8,396)	(12,264)	(9,717)
Net cash provided by financing activities									18,095	8,246	(17,634)
Income taxes paid, net									(175)	5,488	107
Interest paid, net									52,220	52,157	41,364
Euramax Holdings, Inc. (Parent Company only)
Condensed Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries	(103,217)				(81,316)				(103,217)	(81,316)
Interest and other payables	14				10				14	10
Amounts due to affiliates	5,332				4,666				5,332	4,666
Total liabilities	5,346				4,676				5,346	4,676
Class A common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, 194,852 issued and outstanding in 2013 and 188,938 issued and outstanding in 2012	195				189				195	189
Class B convertible restricted voting common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, no shares issued in 2013 and 2012	0				0				0	0
Additional paid-in capital	724,071				721,869				724,071	721,869
Accumulated loss	(843,750)				(818,855)				(843,750)	(818,855)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	10,921				10,805				10,921	10,805
Total shareholders' (deficit) equity	(108,563)				(85,992)				(108,563)	(85,992)
Total liabilities and shareholders' (deficit) equity	(103,217)				(81,316)				(103,217)	(81,316)
Condensed Income Statement [Abstract]
General and administrative									668	318	594
Interest expense									0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)									(668)	(318)	(594)
Provision for income taxes									0	0	0
Net loss before equity in net losses of subsidiaries									(668)	(318)	(594)
Equity in losses of subsidiaries, net of tax									(24,227)	(36,450)	(62,123)
Net loss									(24,895)	(36,768)	(62,717)
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Operations [Abstract]
Net loss									(24,895)	(36,768)	(62,717)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(815)	80	2,380
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									931	953	(5,837)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)									116	1,033	(3,457)
Total comprehensive loss									(24,779)	(35,735)	(66,174)
Condensed Statement of Cash Flow [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									0	0	0
Net cash provided by investing activities									0	0	0
Net cash provided by financing activities									0	0	0
Income taxes paid, net									0	0	0
Interest paid, net									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0