BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) - Summary of Reconciliation of Segment Profit Before Taxes and Operations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Home & Building Products:
Consolidated net sale	$ 453,458	$ 423,749
Segment operating profit:
Segment operating profit	16,981	14,343
Net interest expense	(13,101)	(13,079)
Unallocated amounts	(7,983)	(7,587)
Loss on pension settlement		(2,142)
Income before taxes	4,786	1,750
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment adjusted EBITDA	44,206	42,922
Segment depreciation and amortization	(16,696)	(17,256)
Restructuring charges	(842)	(1,108)
Acquisition costs	(798)
Income before taxes	4,786	1,750
Segment:
Segment depreciation and amortization	16,696	17,256
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	16,793	17,357
Segment:
Capital expenditures	17,916	17,288
Ames True Temper Inc [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	96,608	77,309
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Restructuring charges	(8,000)
Clopay Building Products [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	121,842	112,867
Home And Building Products [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	218,450	190,176
Segment operating profit:
Segment operating profit	9,393	7,271
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment adjusted EBITDA	19,067	17,239
Segment depreciation and amortization	(8,034)	(8,860)
Restructuring charges	(842)	(1,108)
Segment:
Segment depreciation and amortization	8,034	8,860
Segment:
Capital expenditures	8,468	9,093
Telephonics [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Consolidated net sale	96,025	96,050
Segment operating profit:
Segment operating profit	10,652	14,645
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment adjusted EBITDA	12,396	16,364
Segment depreciation and amortization	(1,744)	(1,719)
Segment:
Segment depreciation and amortization	1,744	1,719
Segment:
Capital expenditures	3,367	822
Plastics [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Consolidated net sale	138,983	137,523
Segment operating profit:
Segment operating profit	5,825	2,642
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment adjusted EBITDA	12,743	9,319
Segment depreciation and amortization	(6,918)	(6,677)
Segment:
Segment depreciation and amortization	6,918	6,677
Segment:
Capital expenditures	5,760	7,368
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment operating profit:
Segment operating profit	25,870	24,558
Segment:
Capital expenditures	17,595	17,283
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	97	101
Segment:
Capital expenditures	$ 321	$ 5

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Amount of segment depreciation and amortization reported during the period.

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Amount of segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs.

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Amount of unallocated expense included in noninterest expense for the reportable segment during the period.

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The capitalized costs incurred during the period (excluded from amortization) to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire an unproved property, including costs of lease bonuses and options to purchase or lease properties, the portion of costs applicable to minerals when land including mineral rights is purchased in fee, brokers' fees, recording fees, legal costs, and other costs incurred in acquiring properties.

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Amount of net gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit cost as a result of an irrevocable action that relieves the employer (or the plan) of primary responsibility for a benefit obligation and eliminates significant risks related to the obligation and the assets used to effect the settlement. Examples of transactions that constitute a settlement include, but are not limited to, lump-sum cash payments to plan participants in exchange for their rights to receive specified benefits and purchasing nonparticipating annuity contracts to cover vested benefits.

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The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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Revenue related to the sale of homes and home building activities including design, development, general contracting, and renovation services for residential buildings, including single-family houses, multifamily housing, townhouses, apartments, and modular housing.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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The net amount of operating interest income (expense).

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

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Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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