Real Estate Entities and Investments in Affiliates - Investments in Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates	$ 31,071,000	$ 31,410,000
Granite’s interest in affiliates’ net income	2,193,000	756,000	7,696,000
Impairment of Real Estate	1,452,000	86,341,000	0
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Cost method investments	2,752,000	6,400,000
Investments in affiliates	31,071,000	31,410,000
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Other Affiliates [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Equity method investments	28,319,000	25,010,000
Current assets	82,791,000	79,223,000
Long-term assets	74,980,000	77,645,000
Total Assets	157,771,000	156,868,000
Current liabilities	9,321,000	6,108,000
Long-term liabilities	65,939,000	66,392,000
Total liabilities	75,260,000	72,500,000
Net assets	82,511,000	84,368,000
Revenue	48,983,000	36,249,000	64,956,000
Gross profit	10,654,000	9,239,000	21,905,000
(Loss) income before taxes	(399,000)	(5,026,000)	13,508,000
Net (loss) income	(399,000)	(5,026,000)	13,508,000
Granite’s interest in affiliates’ net income	2,193,000	756,000	7,696,000
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Equity Method Investments in Non Real Estate Affiliate [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Equity method investments	11,841,000	12,882,000
Real Estate Segment [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Equity Method investments in Real Estate Affiliates [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Equity method investments	16,478,000	12,128,000
Number of projects	5	5
Real Estate Segment [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Residential real estate [Member] | Equity Method investments in Real Estate Affiliates [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Equity method investments	11,903,000	9,029,000
Number of projects	2	2
Real Estate Segment [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Commercial real estate [Member] | Equity Method investments in Real Estate Affiliates [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Equity method investments	4,575,000	3,099,000
Number of projects	3	3
Real Estate Segment [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | TEXAS | Equity Method investments in Real Estate Affiliates [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Equity method investments	16,478,000	12,128,000
Number of projects	5	5
Real Estate Segment [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Real Estate Development Projects Range of Total Assets	3,000,000
Real Estate Segment [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Real Estate Development Projects Range of Total Assets	49,600,000
Limited Liability Company Owning Asphalt Terminal [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Equity Method investments in Real Estate Affiliates [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		50.00%
Impairment of Real Estate	$ 3,700,000