Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011 lawsuit
Commitments and Contingencies
Percentage of employees represented by labor unions	16.00%
Litigation
Number of lawsuits filed against the entity	4
Simpson Strong-Tie \| San Bernardino County
Collective bargaining arrangements
Collective bargaining agreements, number	2
Simpson Strong-Tie \| San Bernardino County \| Tool and die craftsmen and maintenance workers
Collective bargaining arrangements
Collective bargaining agreements, number	1
Simpson Strong-Tie \| Stockton
Collective bargaining arrangements
Collective bargaining agreements, number	2

The total amount of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency accrual as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant