Schedule I (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 26, 2014	Jun. 27, 2014	Mar. 28, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 27, 2013	Jun. 28, 2013	Mar. 29, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0
Interest and other payables	25,509				26,366				25,509	26,366
Amounts due to affiliates	0				0				0	0
Total liabilities	709,882				680,536				709,882	680,536
Class A common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, 195,502 issued and outstanding in 2014 and 194,852 issued and outstanding in 2013	196				195				196	195
Class B convertible common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, no shares issued in 2014 and 2013	0				0				0	0
Additional paid-in capital	724,562				724,071				724,562	724,071
Accumulated loss	(903,029)				(843,750)				(903,029)	(843,750)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,165				10,921				5,165	10,921
Total shareholders' (deficit) equity	(173,106)				(108,563)				(173,106)	(108,563)
Total liabilities and shareholders' (deficit) equity	536,776				571,973				536,776	571,973
Condensed Income Statement [Abstract]
General and administrative									71,620	75,428	83,492
Interest expense									(55,518)	(54,078)	(54,858)
Operating (loss) income	2,293	11,176	10,131	(5,010)	(4,121)	8,687	9,884	(7,432)	18,590	7,018	11,355
Provision for income taxes									(802)	(14,761)	(1,723)
Net loss	(20,485)	(16,406)	(3,116)	(19,272)	(11,482)	16,259	(1,556)	(28,116)	(59,279)	(24,895)	(36,768)
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Operations [Abstract]
Net loss	(20,485)	(16,406)	(3,116)	(19,272)	(11,482)	16,259	(1,556)	(28,116)	(59,279)	(24,895)	(36,768)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									276	(815)	80
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									(6,032)	931	953
Total other comprehensive (loss) income									(5,756)	116	1,033
Total comprehensive loss									(65,035)	(24,779)	(35,735)
Condensed Statement of Cash Flow [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									(3,670)	(10,315)	3,985
Net cash provided by investing activities									(6,548)	(8,396)	(12,264)
Net cash provided by financing activities									3,438	18,095	8,246
Income taxes paid, net									(194)	(175)	5,488
Interest paid, net									48,293	52,220	52,157
Euramax Holdings, Inc. (Parent Company only)
Condensed Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries	167,335				103,217				167,335	103,217
Interest and other payables	0				14				0	14
Amounts due to affiliates	5,771				5,332				5,771	5,332
Total liabilities	5,771				5,346				5,771	5,346
Class A common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, 195,502 issued and outstanding in 2014 and 194,852 issued and outstanding in 2013	196				195				196	195
Class B convertible common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, no shares issued in 2014 and 2013	0				0				0	0
Additional paid-in capital	724,562				724,071				724,562	724,071
Accumulated loss	(903,029)				(843,750)				(903,029)	(843,750)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	5,165				10,921				5,165	10,921
Total shareholders' (deficit) equity	(173,106)				(108,563)				(173,106)	(108,563)
Total liabilities and shareholders' (deficit) equity	(167,335)				(103,217)				(167,335)	(103,217)
Condensed Income Statement [Abstract]
General and administrative									424	668	318
Interest expense									0	0	0
Operating (loss) income									(424)	(668)	(318)
Provision for income taxes									0	0	0
Net loss before equity in net losses of subsidiaries									(424)	(668)	(318)
Equity in losses of subsidiaries, net of tax									(58,855)	(24,227)	(36,450)
Net loss									(59,279)	(24,895)	(36,768)
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Operations [Abstract]
Net loss									(59,279)	(24,895)	(36,768)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									276	(815)	80
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									(6,032)	931	953
Total other comprehensive (loss) income									(5,756)	116	1,033
Total comprehensive loss									(65,035)	(24,779)	(35,735)
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