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Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities [Line Items]      
Asset retirement obligation, accretion expense $ 1.8us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense $ 1.7us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense $ 0.7us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense
Compact and Federal LLRW Disposal Facilities      
Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities [Line Items]      
Asset retirement obligation     $ 19.1us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= vhi_CompactAndFederalLLRWDisposalFacilitiesMember