Summary of Charges Recorded in Connection with Restructuring by Reportable Segment (Parenthetical) (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($) Position	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($) Position Executive
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 6,622	$ 20,076
2020 MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	6,622	20,076
2020 MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 3,786	$ 19,062
Construction Products Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth Related to Current Elimination | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position	21	31
Construction Products Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth Plan Related to Legal Function
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position		1
Restructuring charges		$ 200
Construction Products Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 848	2,797
Construction Products Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 160	$ 2,419
Construction Products Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth | Construction Segment Executives
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of corporate executives | Executive		2
Performance Coatings Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position	51	85
Restructuring charges	$ 2,609	$ 5,041
Performance Coatings Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 2,500	$ 4,405
Consumer Products Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position	2	9
Restructuring charges	$ 1,283	$ 1,019
Consumer Products Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	767	1,019
Corporate/Other Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	(7)	8,999
Corporate/Other Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ (7)	$ 8,999
Number of corporate executives | Executive		2
Corporate/Other Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth | Vesting Equity Awards
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of corporate executives | Executive		2
Specialty Products Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position	10	25
Restructuring charges	$ 1,889	$ 2,220
Specialty Products Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 366	$ 2,220
Specialty Segment | 2020 MAP to Growth | Specialty Segment
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of corporate executives | Executive		4