Note 11 - Net (Loss) Income per Share Attributable to Sterling Common Stockholders (Details) - Basic Net (Loss) Income per Share Attributable to Sterling Common Stockholders - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Numerator:
Net (loss) income attributable to Sterling common stockholders (in Dollars)	$ (2,542)	$ 1,200	$ (19,534)	$ 1,406
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic	19,269,977	17,942,124	19,040,870	17,308,551
Shares for dilutive unvested stock and stock options		168,000		155,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding and incremental shares assumed repurchased— diluted	19,270,000	18,110,000	19,041,000	17,464,000
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders (in Dollars per share)	$ (0.13)	$ 0.07	$ (1.03)	$ 0.08

Note 11 - Net (Loss) Income per Share Attributable to Sterling Common Stockholders (Details) - Basic Net (Loss) Income per Share Attributable to Sterling Common Stockholders - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2015

Jun. 30, 2014

Numerator:

Net (loss) income attributable to Sterling common stockholders (in Dollars)

$ (2,542)

$ 1,200

$ (19,534)

$ 1,406