Summary of Charges Recorded in Connection with Restructuring by Reportable Segment (Parenthetical) (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2021 USD ($) Position	May 31, 2020 USD ($) Position	May 31, 2019 USD ($) Position Executive
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 18,106	$ 33,108	$ 42,310
MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	18,106	33,108	42,310
MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	9,396	19,747	32,519
Construction Products Segment | MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 5,335	$ 8,726	$ 11,598
Construction Products Segment | MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position	34	112	109
Restructuring charges	$ 3,194	$ 6,866	$ 9,459
Construction Products Segment | MAP to Growth Plan Related to Legal Function
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position			1
Restructuring charges			$ 200
Performance Coatings Segment | MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 4,572	$ 9,094	$ 9,839
Performance Coatings Segment | MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position	71	161	114
Restructuring charges	$ 2,974	$ 6,973	$ 6,012
SPG Segments | MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 2,720	$ 4,633	$ 7,585
Number of corporate executives | Executive			4
SPG Segments | MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position	35	94	130
Restructuring charges	$ 1,197	$ 1,592	$ 5,338
Corporate/Other Segment | MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	191	$ 1,227	9,984
Corporate/Other Segment | MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position		2
Restructuring charges	191	$ 1,227	$ 9,984
Number of corporate executives | Executive			2
Corporate/Other Segment | MAP to Growth | Vesting Equity Awards
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of corporate executives | Executive			2
Consumer Segment | MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 5,288	$ 9,428	$ 3,304
Consumer Segment | MAP to Growth | Severance and Benefit Costs
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of positions eliminated | Position	29	92	21
Restructuring charges	$ 1,840	$ 3,089	$ 1,726
CPG Segment | MAP to Growth
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number of corporate executives | Executive			3