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Quarterly Results of Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]                      
Pre-tax gain for a settlement agreement $ 400,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries $ 8,800,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries $ 400,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries $ 800,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries $ 5,700,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries $ 2,200,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries $ 900,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries $ 600,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries $ 10,368,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries $ 9,427,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries $ 3,311,000us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries
Litigation settlement charge           6,800,000nl_EquityMethodInvestmentLitigationSettlementChargeBeforeTax          
Litigation settlement charge, net of tax           4,500,000nl_EquityMethodInvestmentLitigationSettlementChargeNetOfTax          
Prepaid loan charge, before tax                   1,800,000nl_EquityMethodInvestmentPrepaidLoanChargeBeforeTax  
Prepaid loan charge, net of tax                   1,100,000nl_EquityMethodInvestmentPrepaidLoanChargeNetOfTax  
Payment of principal amount           100,000,000nl_EquityMethodInvestmentPrepaymentOfDebt   290,000,000nl_EquityMethodInvestmentPrepaymentOfDebt      
Unabsorbed fixed production and other costs         6,300,000nl_EquityMethodInvestmentOfUnabsorbedFixedProductionAndOtherCostsBeforeTax 1,600,000nl_EquityMethodInvestmentOfUnabsorbedFixedProductionAndOtherCostsBeforeTax          
Unabsorbed fixed production and other costs, net of tax         $ 4,100,000nl_UnabsorbedFixedProductionAndOtherCostsNetOfTax $ 1,100,000nl_UnabsorbedFixedProductionAndOtherCostsNetOfTax          
Uncertain tax positions per share     $ 0.02nl_UncertainTaxPositionsPerShare