Discontinued Operations - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Feb. 29, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Quarterly Financial Information, Quarterly Charges and Credits, Amount Reconciling to Previously Reported Results			$ 8,800,000
Distribution from GCP	$ 750,000,000		750,000,000	$ 0
Revolving Credit Facility
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity							$ 300,000,000
Line of Credit | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Grace Construction Products | GCP Credit Agreement | GCP Applied Technologies
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt		$ 525,000,000
Distribution from GCP		250,000,000
Line of Credit | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Grace Construction Products | GCP Credit Agreement | Term Loan | GCP Applied Technologies
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity					$ 275,000,000.0
Line of Credit | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Grace Construction Products | GCP Credit Agreement | Revolving Credit Facility | GCP Applied Technologies
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity					$ 250,000,000.0
Senior Notes | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Grace Construction Products | 9.5% Senior Notes Due 2023 | GCP Applied Technologies
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt		525,000,000
Interest rate (percent)						9.50%
Distribution from GCP		$ 500,000,000
Property, Plant and Equipment [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Quarterly Financial Information, Quarterly Charges and Credits, Amount Reconciling to Previously Reported Results			20,400,000
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, assets, noncurrent [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Quarterly Financial Information, Quarterly Charges and Credits, Amount Reconciling to Previously Reported Results			$ (29,200,000)