Selected Segment Data (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,356.9	$ 1,383.6	$ 1,061.0
Operating profit (loss):	(140.1)	(7.6)	(133.3)
Other operating credits and charges, net	11.2	(0.1)	(1.6)
Gain (loss) on sale or impairment of long-lived assets	(73.9)	(2.4)	2.5
General corporate and other expenses, net	(66.4)	(73.4)	(76.5)
Foreign currency gains (losses)	(1.0)	2.2	13.4
Other than temporary impairment	14.8	17.0	2.0
Equity Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment	(14.8)	(17.0)	(2.0)
Other Nonoperating Expense	1.0	(2.2)	7.3
Investment income	28.7	38.4	47.7
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	(56.9)	(63.9)	(74.6)
Loss from continuing operations before taxes	(211.0)	(54.3)	(179.9)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(39.1)	(22.1)	(63.4)
Loss from continuing operations	(171.9)	(32.2)	(116.5)
Other Depreciation and Amortization	78.9	82.0	80.0
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	21.4	14.5	9.6
OSB [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	542.0	602.7	408.8
Operating profit (loss):	(63.5)	25.8	(65.1)
Other Depreciation and Amortization	36.3	37.4	35.2
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	8.9	7.1	2.5
Siding [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	429.8	427.8	379.4
Operating profit (loss):	42.0	51.3	29.3
Other Depreciation and Amortization	15.5	18.1	18.5
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	5.9	5.6	4.5
Engineered Wood Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	203.3	192.0	157.7
Operating profit (loss):	(15.5)	(21.3)	(33.1)
Other Depreciation and Amortization	12.6	13.1	12.2
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	2.0	0.4	0.2
South America [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	144.9	124.7	79.1
Operating profit (loss):	11.6	7.2	0.4
Other Depreciation and Amortization	11.6	10.0	9.4
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	2.7	1.1	2.2
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	39.4	42.9	37.9
Operating profit (loss):	(12.5)	(1.1)	0.4
Other Depreciation and Amortization	0.8	1.1	1.3
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	0.2	0	0.1
Intersegment elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(2.5)	(6.5)	(1.9)
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other Depreciation and Amortization	2.1	2.3	3.4
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	$ 1.7	$ 0.3	$ 0.1