Supplemental Financial Information (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	$ 37,916	$ 26,616
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	(9)	119
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	37,907	26,735
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(5,344)	(2,705)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(8,816)	(6,852)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	12,447	417
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,713)	(9,140)
Long-term debt payments	(205,084)	(414)
Proceeds from long-term debt	210,000
Payment of note redemption fees	(3,702)
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices	(642)	(970)
Payment of deferred financing fees	(3,858)	(18)
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation	62	14
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	342	52
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(2,882)	(1,336)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(492)	751
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	32,820	17,010
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	48,028	54,117
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	80,848	71,127
Gibraltar Industries, Inc. [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	(9,040)	(7,847)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(9,040)	(7,847)
Long-term debt payments	(204,000)
Proceeds from long-term debt	210,000
Payment of note redemption fees	(3,702)
Purchase of treasury stock at market prices	(642)	(970)
Payment of deferred financing fees	(3,858)
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation	62	14
Intercompany financing	10,838	8,751
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	342	52
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	9,040	7,847
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	44,203	28,704
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	(9)	119
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	44,194	28,823
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(5,344)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(6,196)	(6,030)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	12,434	68
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	894	(5,962)
Long-term debt payments	(1,084)	(414)
Payment of deferred financing fees		(18)
Intercompany financing	(10,211)	(6,745)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(11,295)	(7,177)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	33,793	15,684
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	26,163	34,691
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	59,956	50,375
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations	2,753	5,759
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	2,753	5,759
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(2,705)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(2,620)	(822)
Net proceeds from sale of property and equipment	13	349
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(2,607)	(3,178)
Intercompany financing	(627)	(2,006)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(627)	(2,006)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(492)	751
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(973)	1,326
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	21,865	19,426
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	20,892	20,752
Eliminations [Member]
Schedule Of Supplemental Financial Information [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities of discontinued operations
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment
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
Payment of deferred financing fees
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation
Intercompany financing
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period