Description of Business - Acquisitions/Strategic Initiatives/Divestitures (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions, SFr in Millions, NZD in Millions										1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2016 NZD company	Jul. 01, 2016 USD ($) company	Jun. 02, 2016 EUR (€)	Jun. 02, 2016 USD ($)	May 13, 2016 USD ($) country	Feb. 18, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 01, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 CHF (SFr)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) business country	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) plant	Feb. 28, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired | business																4
Number of countries in which entity operates | country																80
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses																$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,123
Payment of contingent consideration																500	684	0
Proceeds from divestiture of interest																6,599	0	0
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies																0	0	570
Return on equity of affiliated companies																0	0	590
Income (loss) from equity method investments														$ (500)
Purchase of or distributions to non-controlling interests																1,276	472	$ 617
Restructuring Plan 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated effect on future earnings																$ 17,400
Restructuring Plan 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of plant closures | plant																		2
CSL and BCS
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired | company	2	2
Payments to acquire businesses	NZD 7.5	$ 5,500
Escrow deposit | NZD	0.5
Milestone payments	2.0	1,400
Total consideration recorded	NZD 8.9	$ 6,400
LMJ
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total consideration recorded			€ 2.9	$ 3,235
Fyfe Europe
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire businesses					$ 2,800
Total consideration recorded					$ 3,000
Number of countries in which entity operates | country					72
Underground Solutions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire businesses						$ 85,000
Total consideration recorded						88,370
Discounted value of net operating loss tax assets						5,000
Consideration transferred, funds held in escrow						6,300
Foreign earnings repatriated						29,700
Foreign earnings repatriated, tax impact						$ 3,200
CRTS
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from settlement of escrow claims										$ 700
Payment of contingent consideration										$ 1,000
Schultz
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire businesses								$ 6,700
Total consideration recorded								$ 7,662
Bayou Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses							$ 7,600
Ownership interest							51.00%
Consideration received							$ 9,600
Disposal group note receivable							$ 2,000
Video Injection - Instituform SAS
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Long-term purchase commitment period											5 years
Ka-te
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Long-term purchase commitment period												5 years	5 years
Gain (loss) on disposition of business													$ (500)
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses												SFr 1.1	$ 1,100
Video Injection - Instituform SAS
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposition of business											$ (2,900)
Bayou Coating
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Ownership interest									49.00%					49.00%
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners									51.00%					51.00%
Proceeds from divestiture of interest									$ 9,100
Non-cash charge related to goodwill, pre-tax															$ 2,700
Non-cash charge related to goodwill, post-tax															$ 1,800
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies														$ 1,200
Return on equity of affiliated companies														$ 700
Delta Double Jointing
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners																			41.00%
Ownership percentage by parent																			59.00%
Purchase of or distributions to non-controlling interests									$ 600
Disposed of by Sale | Bayou Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Expected loss from disposal, before tax																	600
Discontinued Operations, Liquidated | Bayou Welding Works
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Operating loss																		$ (6,008)
Operating expenses | CRTS
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from settlement of escrow claims																	200
Other Operating Income (Expense) | CRTS
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from settlement of escrow claims																	$ 800