Investments in Affiliates - Investments in Affiliates (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investment [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates		$ 35,668	$ 33,182	$ 32,361
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member]
Investment [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates		35,668	33,182
Equity Method investments in Real Estate Affiliates [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member]
Investment [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates		25,911	24,103
Other Affiliates [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member]
Investment [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates		9,757	9,079
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Current Assets		30,836	26,790
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Noncurrent Assets		124,670	148,687
Total assets		155,506	175,477
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Current Liabilities		18,485	25,840
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Noncurrent Liabilities	[1]	37,217	45,267
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Liabilities		55,702	71,107
Net assets		99,804	104,370
Granite’s share of net assets		35,668	33,182
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member]
Investment [Line Items]
Total assets		26,200
Texas [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Residential Real Estate [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member]
Investment [Line Items]
Granite’s share of net assets		20,800	$ 18,500
Minimum [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member]
Investment [Line Items]
Total assets		100
Maximum [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Real Estate Entities [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member]
Investment [Line Items]
Total assets		$ 63,000

[1] The balance primarily relates to debt associated with our real estate investments. See Note 11 for further discussion.