Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies	5. CONTINGENCIES The Company carries insurance policies on insurable risks with coverage and other terms that it believes to be appropriate. The Company generally has self-insured retention limits and has obtained fully insured layers of coverage above such self-insured retention limits. Accruals for self-insurance losses are made based on claims experience. Liabilities for existing and unreported claims are accrued for when it is probable that future costs will be incurred and can be reasonably estimated. In 1995, Huttig was identified as a potentially responsible party in connection with the cleanup of contamination at a formerly owned property in Montana that was used for the manufacture and treatment of wood windows. The facility was closed in 1996 and was formerly owned by Missoula White Pine Sash Company which was acquired by Huttig in 1971. Since being identified as a potentially responsible party in 1995, Huttig has been remediating this property under the oversight of, and in cooperation with, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) and has generally complied with a 1995 unilateral administrative order of the DEQ to complete a remedial investigation and feasibility study. The remedial investigation was completed by Huttig and was approved in 1998 by the DEQ, which has also issued its final risk assessment of this property. Since 1998 Huttig has remained in active discussions with the DEQ, expanded the remedial investigation where warranted, implemented interim clean-up actions, conducted pilot tests and tested remedial technologies in the field. During the first quarter of 2014 the DEQ issued its initial proposed plan for the final clean-up of the Montana Property in its report titled Proposed Final Cleanup for the Missoula White Pine Sash State Superfund Facility (“Proposed Plan”). Under the preferred remedy set forth in the Proposed Plan, the DEQ estimated total costs to remediate the property at $7.9 million. The DEQ sought public comment on the Proposed Plan through April 14, 2014. Huttig’s comments, along with other public comments on the Proposed Plan, are currently being evaluated by the DEQ. After consideration of public comments, the DEQ is expected to publish a record of decision (“ROD”) outlining the final remedy for the site. The DEQ is then expected to negotiate with Huttig for an administrative order of consent related to Huttig’s role in the implementation of the final remedy. According to previous DEQ disclosures, the ROD was expected to be issued in the third quarter of 2014; however, it has not been issued as of the date of this report. Based on the DEQ’s recent disclosures, the ROD is currently expected to be issued by the end of the fourth quarter of 2014. Based on the Company’s review of the Proposed Plan, including discussions with third-party specialists, the Company recorded a charge of $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2014, which was reflected in discontinued operations, increasing the total accrual for reasonably estimable remediation costs to $3.7 million, which the Company believes is a reasonable estimate. The Company’s estimate is based on the preferred remedy of the Proposed Plan; however, it takes into consideration alternative remediation treatments and underlying cost estimates. The Proposed Plan, as well as the Company’s estimate of remediation costs, may change when the ROD is issued or at other times when relevant circumstances change, depending on a number of factors. Factors impacting the Company’s estimate include, among other things, the final remedy sought by the DEQ in the ROD as compared to the preferred remedy set forth in the Proposed Plan, associated clean-up standards, alternative remediation methods, potential indemnification or other claims Huttig may be able to assert against third parties, discussions with the DEQ and the availability of insurance coverage. Huttig is reviewing whether insurance coverage is available to it with respect to any remediation costs incurred for this property. At this time Huttig has not recognized any recovery due to the uncertain nature of these claims. The ultimate amount of remediation expenditures is difficult to estimate because of the uncertainty relating to the final remedy to be selected by the DEQ in its ROD as well as alternative means of remediation, which may or may not be available. As of September 30, 2014, management believes the accrual represents a reasonable estimate, based on current facts and circumstances, of the expected costs of remediation to Huttig. Until the DEQ selects a final remedy and issues the ROD, and until alternative means of remediation can be evaluated, management cannot estimate the top end of the range of potential cost to Huttig. As a result, the amount of expenses ultimately incurred by Huttig with respect to this property could exceed the amount accrued as of September 30, 2014 by a material amount and which could have a material adverse effect on Huttig’s future liquidity, financial condition or operating results in any period in which any such additional expenses are incurred. In addition, some of the Company’s current and former distribution centers are located in areas of current or former industrial activity where environmental contamination may have occurred, and for which it, among others, could be held responsible. The Company currently believes that there are no material environmental liabilities at any of its distribution center locations. The Company accrues expenses for contingencies when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and management can reasonably estimate the expense. Contingencies for which the Company has made accruals include environmental, product liability and other legal matters. It is possible, however, that actual expenses could exceed our accrual by a material amount which could have a material adverse effect on Huttig’s future liquidity, financial condition or operating results in the period in which any such additional expenses are incurred.

5. CONTINGENCIES

The Company carries insurance policies on insurable risks with coverage and other terms that it believes to be appropriate. The Company generally has self-insured retention limits and has obtained fully insured layers of coverage above such self-insured retention limits. Accruals for self-insurance losses are made based on claims experience. Liabilities for existing and unreported claims are accrued for when it is probable that future costs will be incurred and can be reasonably estimated.

In 1995, Huttig was identified as a potentially responsible party in connection with the cleanup of contamination at a formerly owned property in Montana that was used for the manufacture and treatment of wood windows. The facility was closed in 1996 and was formerly owned by Missoula White Pine Sash Company which was acquired by Huttig in 1971. Since being identified as a potentially responsible party in 1995, Huttig has been remediating this property under the oversight of, and in cooperation with, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) and has generally complied with a 1995 unilateral administrative order of the DEQ to complete a remedial investigation and feasibility study. The remedial investigation was completed by Huttig and was approved in 1998 by the DEQ, which has also issued its final risk assessment of this property. Since 1998 Huttig has remained in active discussions with the DEQ, expanded the remedial investigation where warranted, implemented interim clean-up actions, conducted pilot tests and tested remedial technologies in the field. During the first quarter of 2014 the DEQ issued its initial proposed plan for the final clean-up of the Montana Property in its report titled Proposed Final Cleanup for the Missoula White Pine Sash State Superfund Facility (“Proposed Plan”). Under the preferred remedy set forth in the Proposed Plan, the DEQ estimated total costs to remediate the property at $7.9 million. The DEQ sought public comment on the Proposed Plan through April 14, 2014. Huttig’s comments, along with other public comments on the Proposed Plan, are currently being evaluated by the DEQ. After consideration of public comments, the DEQ is expected to publish a record of decision (“ROD”) outlining the final remedy for the site. The DEQ is then expected to negotiate with Huttig for an administrative order of consent related to Huttig’s role in the implementation of the final remedy. According to previous DEQ disclosures, the ROD was expected to be issued in the third quarter of 2014; however, it has not been issued as of the date of this report. Based on the DEQ’s recent disclosures, the ROD is currently expected to be issued by the end of the fourth quarter of 2014. Based on the Company’s review of the Proposed Plan, including discussions with third-party specialists, the Company recorded a charge of $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2014, which was reflected in discontinued operations, increasing the total accrual for reasonably estimable remediation costs to $3.7 million, which the Company believes is a reasonable estimate. The Company’s estimate is based on the preferred remedy of the Proposed Plan; however, it takes into consideration alternative remediation treatments and underlying cost estimates. The Proposed Plan, as well as the Company’s estimate of remediation costs, may change when the ROD is issued or at other times when relevant circumstances change, depending on a number of factors. Factors impacting the Company’s estimate include, among other things, the final remedy sought by the DEQ in the ROD as compared to the preferred remedy set forth in the Proposed Plan, associated clean-up standards, alternative remediation methods, potential indemnification or other claims Huttig may be able to assert against third parties, discussions with the DEQ and the availability of insurance coverage. Huttig is reviewing whether insurance coverage is available to it with respect to any remediation costs incurred for this property. At this time Huttig has not recognized any recovery due to the uncertain nature of these claims. The ultimate amount of remediation expenditures is difficult to estimate because of the uncertainty relating to the final remedy to be selected by the DEQ in its ROD as well as alternative means of remediation, which may or may not be available. As of September 30, 2014, management believes the accrual represents a reasonable estimate, based on current facts and circumstances, of the expected costs of remediation to Huttig. Until the DEQ selects a final remedy and issues the ROD, and until alternative means of remediation can be evaluated, management cannot estimate the top end of the range of potential cost to Huttig. As a result, the amount of expenses ultimately incurred by Huttig with respect to this property could exceed the amount accrued as of September 30, 2014 by a material amount and which could have a material adverse effect on Huttig’s future liquidity, financial condition or operating results in any period in which any such additional expenses are incurred.

In addition, some of the Company’s current and former distribution centers are located in areas of current or former industrial activity where environmental contamination may have occurred, and for which it, among others, could be held responsible. The Company currently believes that there are no material environmental liabilities at any of its distribution center locations.

The Company accrues expenses for contingencies when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and management can reasonably estimate the expense. Contingencies for which the Company has made accruals include environmental, product liability and other legal matters. It is possible, however, that actual expenses could exceed our accrual by a material amount which could have a material adverse effect on Huttig’s future liquidity, financial condition or operating results in the period in which any such additional expenses are incurred.