Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

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- Definition

Amount of interest expense incurred on a debt or other obligation to related party.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Balance held at close of period in number of shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 946

-SubTopic 320

-Section S99

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-12C.Column B)

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Section S99

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34726532&loc=d3e611133-123010

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 12C

-Paragraph Column B

-Article 12

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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-Section 12

-Paragraph Column B

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 14

-Paragraph Column B

-Article 12

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the fee for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

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- Definition

The percentage points (also referred to as 'margin') added to the reference rate as stated in the loan agreement and used to compute the variable rate on the loans receivable. For instance, the loan agreement might state that the interest rate the borrower is obligated to pay is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus three quarters (3/4) of a percentage point adjusted quarterly (each three months). LIBOR in this example is the index or reference rate, 3/4 percentage point is the margin, the reference rate plus the margin is the fully indexed rate. This element would be used to report separately the margin.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Date of maturity or expiration of arrangements with a related party (for example, but not limited to, leasing and debt arrangements between related parties), in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Expenses recognized resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 850

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

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Balance Type:	debit
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects the sum of all other revenue and income realized from sales and other transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Purchases during the period (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from a loan, supported by a promissory note, granted to related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3255-108585

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- Definition

Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Related Parties

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16382449

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 946

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 07

-Paragraph b

-Subparagraph 1

-Article 6

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- Definition

Currently estimated potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Related party transaction cash received for insurance premium.

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Revolving demand promissory note related party maximum loan capacity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

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Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011
CompX \| Note Payable TFMC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest expense, related party	$ 0.3
LPC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Purchase of Ti02 from LPC	250.2	193.1	224.5
Sales of feedstock ore to LPC	143.7	98.4	141.1
Contran \| Intercorporate Services Agreements Fees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction	32.0	33.4	36.1
Contran \| Intercorporate Services Agreements Fees \| Scenario, Forecast
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction		35.8
Contran \| Pledge Fee Received
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue and other income from related party transactions		0.9	0.8
Contran \| Tremont \| Promissory Notes
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, estimated exposure		17.4
Contran \| Tremont \| Deferred Payment \| Present Value
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, estimated exposure		8.5
Contran \| Tremont \| Deferred Payment \| Face Value
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, estimated exposure		11.1
Contran \| Kronos Worldwide, Inc. \| Securities Pledged as Collateral
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Stock pledged as collateral		12.0	12.0
Contran \| WCS \| Surety Bond
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, maximum exposure				86.6
Contran \| WCS \| Performance Guarantee
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, estimated exposure	5.5	5.5	5.5
Contran \| WCS \| Additional Collateral Trust
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, estimated exposure		56.0
Related party transaction	0.7
Contran \| Revolving Credit Facility
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest expense, related party	0.1	11.0	19.0
Contran \| Letter Of Credit \| WCS
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations, maximum exposure		6.1
Costs related to the Letter of Credit	0.1	0.1	0.1
Contran \| Unsecured Revolving Demand Note Receivable
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unsecured Revolving Demand Promissory note				65
Interest at prime plus rate				3.00%
Unsecured Revolving Demand Promissory Note Receivable, due on demand no earlier than date		Dec. 31, 2014
Loan repayment received	64.0
Contran \| Interest Income \| Unsecured Revolving Demand Note Receivable
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue and other income from related party transactions	0.8
Contran and Other Affiliates
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction cash received for insurance premium	6.5	5.6	5.7
TIMET \| BMI \| Utility Services Fee
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party transaction	$ 1.8