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Goodwill - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Line Items]        
Beginning Balance $ 400.1us-gaap_Goodwill $ 379.7us-gaap_Goodwill $ 379.7us-gaap_Goodwill  
Sale of discontinued operations (14.3)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit      
Goodwill impairment (6.4)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss      
Changes in foreign exchange rates 0.3us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments      
Ending Balance 379.7us-gaap_Goodwill 379.7us-gaap_Goodwill 379.7us-gaap_Goodwill  
Chemicals        
Goodwill [Line Items]        
Beginning Balance   352.6us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ChemicalsMember
352.6us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ChemicalsMember
352.6us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ChemicalsMember
Ending Balance 352.6us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ChemicalsMember
352.6us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ChemicalsMember
352.6us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ChemicalsMember
352.6us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ChemicalsMember
Component Products        
Goodwill [Line Items]        
Beginning Balance 41.1us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ComponentProductsMember
27.1us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ComponentProductsMember
27.1us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ComponentProductsMember
 
Sale of discontinued operations (14.3)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ComponentProductsMember
     
Changes in foreign exchange rates 0.3us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ComponentProductsMember
     
Ending Balance 27.1us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ComponentProductsMember
27.1us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ComponentProductsMember
27.1us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ComponentProductsMember
 
EWI        
Goodwill [Line Items]        
Beginning Balance 6.4us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_EWIMember
     
Goodwill impairment $ (6.4)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_EWIMember