Segment reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) geographic_area	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of geographic areas | geographic_area	3
Net sales	$ 330,876	$ 291,858
Depreciation and amortization	22,501	24,392
Less: Interest expense	(20,745)	(24,665)
Loss before income taxes	(13,988)	(32,336)
Capital expenditures	4,350	11,974
Total assets	1,912,620		$ 1,740,058
Earnings from equity method investee	2,799	1,567
Investment in equity method investee	51,232		50,034
Property, plant and equipment, net	464,165		475,575
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	315,380	276,737
Property, plant and equipment, net	415,142		422,486
Canada
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	13,486	13,100
Property, plant and equipment, net	39,883		43,754
Mexico
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,010	2,021
Property, plant and equipment, net	9,140		9,335
Drainage Pipe & Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings from equity method investee	2,800	1,600
Investment in equity method investee	51,232		50,034
Operating Segments | Drainage Pipe & Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	170,234	163,734
Depreciation and amortization	8,245	9,202
Segment EBITDA and reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes	26,052	25,066
Capital expenditures	3,030	7,929
Total assets	825,998		819,373
Operating Segments | Water Pipe & Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	160,642	128,124
Depreciation and amortization	13,879	14,875
Segment EBITDA and reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes	22,873	8,741
Capital expenditures	1,181	2,277
Total assets	880,077		862,542
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	377	315
Segment EBITDA and reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes	(19,667)	(17,086)
Capital expenditures	139	$ 1,768
Total assets	$ 206,545		$ 58,143