Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] ASSETS ASSETS [Abstract] Current assets: Current assets: [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Contracts receivable, including retainage Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts Inventories Amounts due from minority-owned entities in which the reporting entity shares joint control with another party or group, due within 1 year (or 1 business cycle). Also, includes the entity's equity in minority-owned joint ventures. Receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures Other current assets Total current assets Property and equipment, net Goodwill Other assets, net Total assets LIABILITIES AND EQUITY LIABILITIES AND EQUITY [Abstract] Current liabilities: Current liabilities: [Abstract] Accounts payable Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts Current maturities of long-term debt Income taxes payable Accrued compensation Long-term liability for noncontrolling owners' interests in subsidiaries and joint ventures, including rights to put remaining ownership interest to the company. Current obligation for noncontrolling owners’ interest in subsidiaries and joint ventures Other current liabilities Total current liabilities Long-term liabilities: Long-term liabilities: [Abstract] Long-term debt, net of current maturities The members interest subject to mandatory redemption and undistributed earnings. Member’s interest subject to mandatory redemption and undistributed earnings Other long-term liabilities Total long-term liabilities Equity: Equity: [Abstract] Sterling stockholders’ equity: Sterling stockholders’ equity: [Abstract] Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 28,000,000 shares authorized, 18,807,389 and 16,657,754 shares issued Additional paid in capital Retained deficit Accumulated other comprehensive income Total Sterling common stockholders’ equity Noncontrolling interests Total equity Total liabilities and equity Preferred stock par value (in Dollars per share) Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Common stock par value (in Dollars per share) Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Income Statement [Abstract] Revenues Cost of revenues Gross profit (loss) General and administrative expenses Other operating income (expense), net Operating income (loss) Gain on sale of securities Interest income The cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest that was charged against earnings during the period. And, includes amount recognized for the passage of time, typically for liabilities, that have been discounted to their net present values. Interest expense Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before income taxes, extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and noncontrolling interest. Income (loss) before income taxes and earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests Income tax (expense) benefit Net income (loss) Noncontrolling owners’ interests in earnings of subsidiaries and joint ventures Net income (loss) attributable to Sterling common stockholders Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders: Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders: [Abstract] Basic (in Dollars per share) Diluted (in Dollars per share) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in computing per share amounts: Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in computing per share amounts: [Abstract] Basic (in Shares) Diluted (in Shares) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - (Unaudited) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - (Unaudited) [Abstract] Net income (loss) attributable to Sterling common stockholders Amount of net income or loss for the period allocated to the noncontrolling interest included in equity in order to derive to the portion attributable to the parent. Net income attributable to noncontrolling owners’ interests included in equity Amount of net income or loss for the period allocated to the noncontrolling interest included in liabilities in order to derive to the portion attributable to the parent. Net income attributable to noncontrolling owners’ interests included in liabilities Add /(deduct) other comprehensive income, net of tax: Add /(deduct) other comprehensive income, net of tax: [Abstract] Realized gain from sale of available-for-sale securities Change in unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities Realized gain from settlement of derivatives Change in the effective portion of unrealized gain in fair market value of derivatives Comprehensive income (loss) Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Equity Component [Domain] Balance Balance Balance (in Shares) Balance (in Shares) The net income including the portion attributable to the noncontolling interests including the noncontrolling owners' interests in earnings of subsidiaries and joint ventures. Net income Other comprehensive loss Stock issued upon option exercises Stock issued upon option exercises (in Shares) Issuance and amortization of restricted stock Issuance and amortization of restricted stock (in Shares) Distribution to owners Stock issued in equity offering, net of expenses Stock issued in equity offering, net of expenses (in Shares) Other Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Cash flows from operating activities: [Abstract] Plus: Noncontrolling owners’ interests in earnings of subsidiaries and joint ventures Net income (loss) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Gain on disposal of property and equipment Deferred tax benefit Stock-based compensation expense Gain on sale of securities Tax impact from exercise of stock options Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Changes in operating assets and liabilities: [Abstract] Contracts receivable Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts The net change during the reporting period in Equity in and Receivable from unconsolidated joint ventures. Receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures Income tax receivable Inventories, deposits and other current assets Accounts payable Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts Accrued compensation and other liabilities Net cash used in operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Cash flows from investing activities: [Abstract] Additions to property and equipment Proceeds from sales of property and equipment Purchases of short-term securities, available-for-sale Sales of short-term securities, available-for-sale Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Cash flows from financing activities: [Abstract] Cumulative daily drawdowns – Credit Facility Cumulative daily repayments – Credit Facility Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners Net proceeds from stock issued Tax impact from exercise of stock options Other Net cash provided by in financing activities Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: [Abstract] Cash paid during the period for interest Cash paid during the period for income taxes Non-cash items: Non-cash items: [Abstract] Revaluation of non-controlling interest obligations, net of tax Revaluation of noncontrolling interest obligations, net of tax Disclosure Text Block [Abstract] Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract] Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments [Text Block] Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract] Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block] Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Variable Interest Entity Disclosure [Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Covenants And Events Of Default [Abstract] Covenants And Events Of Default [Abstract] The covenants and events of defaults. Covenants And Events Of Default [Text Block] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Revenue Recognition, Percentage-of-Completion Method [Policy Text Block] Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block] New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] Condensed Balance Sheet [Table Text Block] Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block] Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block] Schedule of Derivative Instruments [Table Text Block] Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Effect on Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block] Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block] Schedule of Changes in Noncontrolling owner's Interest in Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures [Table Text Block] Financial Instruments Subject to Mandatory Redemption Disclosure [Table Text Block] Schedule of Changes in Noncontrolling owner's Interest in Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures [Table Text Block] Schedule of Variable Interest Entity Income Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table Text Block] Schedule of Variable Interest Entity Income [Table Text Block] Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block] Summary of Joint Venture Condensed Balance Sheet Information Included as Part of Consolidated Financial Statements Summary of Joint Venture Condensed Balance Sheet Information Included as Part of Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract] Entity [Domain] Condensed Balance Sheet Statement [Table] Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items] Total combined: