BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Detail) - Summary of reconciliation of segment profit before taxes and operations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	$ 190,176	$ 210,388
Consolidated net sales	423,749	451,031
Segment operating profit	14,343	17,847
Net interest expense	(13,079)	(13,000)
Segment depreciation and amortization	(17,256)	(15,418)
Unallocated amounts	(7,587)	(6,335)
Restructuring charges	(1,108)	(1,795)
Acquisition costs	0	(178)
Loss on pension settlement	(2,142)	0
Income (loss) before taxes	1,750	4,894
DEPRECIATION and AMORTIZATION
Total segment depreciation and amortization	17,256	15,418
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	17,357	15,515
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	17,288	19,892
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs	42,922	41,620
Ames True Temper Inc [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	77,309	98,741
Restructuring charges	(8,000)
Clopay Building Products [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	112,867	111,647
Telephonics [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Consolidated net sales	96,050	104,513
Segment operating profit	14,645	12,515
Segment depreciation and amortization	1,719	1,653
Restructuring charges	(1,522)
DEPRECIATION and AMORTIZATION
Total segment depreciation and amortization	(1,719)	(1,653)
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	822	1,230
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs	16,364	15,690
Plastics [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Consolidated net sales	137,523	136,130
Segment operating profit	2,642	1,880
Segment depreciation and amortization	6,677	6,300
DEPRECIATION and AMORTIZATION
Total segment depreciation and amortization	(6,677)	(6,300)
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	7,368	12,328
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs	9,319	8,180
Home And Building Products [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Segment operating profit	7,271	9,834
Segment depreciation and amortization	8,860	7,465
Restructuring charges	(1,108)	(273)
DEPRECIATION and AMORTIZATION
Total segment depreciation and amortization	(8,860)	(7,465)
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	9,093	6,268
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs	17,239	17,750
Operating Segments [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Segment operating profit	24,558	24,229
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	17,283	19,826
Corporate [Member]
DEPRECIATION and AMORTIZATION
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	101	97
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	$ 5	$ 66