Supplemental Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations	$ (12,687)	$ (13,049)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	(7)	(31)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(12,694)	(13,080)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(1,979)	(2,743)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(2,705)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	127	8
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,852)	(5,440)
Proceeds from long-term debt	210,000
Long-term debt payments	(204,678)	(2)
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices	(636)	(888)
Payment of bond redemption fees	(3,702)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(3,711)
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation	83	98
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	327
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,317)	(792)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(877)	522
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(17,740)	(18,790)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	48,028	54,117
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	30,288	35,327
Gibraltar Industries, Inc. [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations	(2,878)	148
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(2,878)	148
Proceeds from long-term debt	210,000
Long-term debt payments	(204,000)
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices	(636)	(888)
Payment of bond redemption fees	(3,702)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(3,705)
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation	83	98
Intercompany financing	4,511	642
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	327
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	2,878	(148)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations	(10,125)	(13,582)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	(7)	(31)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(10,132)	(13,613)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(1,641)	(2,315)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	127	8
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,514)	(2,307)
Long-term debt payments	(678)	(2)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(6)
Intercompany financing	(4,458)	(278)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(5,142)	(280)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(16,788)	(16,200)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	26,163	34,691
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	9,375	18,491
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations	316	385
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	316	385
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(338)	(428)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(2,705)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(338)	(3,133)
Intercompany financing	(53)	(364)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(53)	(364)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(877)	522
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(952)	(2,590)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	21,865	19,426
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	20,913	16,836
Eliminations [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Long-term debt payments
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation
Intercompany financing
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period