Real Estate Entities and Investments in Affiliates - Investments in Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates	$ 32,480,000	$ 30,799,000
Granite’s interest in affiliates’ net income	1,304,000	1,988,000	2,193,000
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates	32,480,000	30,799,000
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Other Affiliates [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Equity method investments	32,480,000	30,799,000
Investments in affiliates	11,088,000	11,024,000
Current assets	25,807,000	85,354,000
Long-term assets	148,181,000	80,758,000
Total Assets	173,988,000	166,112,000
Current liabilities	6,000,000	8,262,000
Long-term liabilities	68,544,000	65,744,000
Total liabilities	74,544,000	74,006,000
Net assets	99,444,000	92,106,000
Revenue	42,563,000	52,342,000	48,983,000
Gross profit	3,487,000	13,254,000	10,654,000
(Loss) income before taxes	(686,000)	1,318,000	(399,000)
Net (loss) income	(686,000)	1,318,000	(399,000)
Granite’s interest in affiliates’ net income	1,304,000	1,988,000	2,193,000
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Equity Method investments in Real Estate Affiliates [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates	21,392,000	19,775,000
Real Estate Segment [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Impairment of Real Estate		2,800,000
Real Estate Segment [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | TEXAS | Residential real estate [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Equity method investments	14,900,000	13,800,000
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]
Total Assets	4,400,000
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]
Total Assets	$ 53,300,000