Restructuring and Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012
Balance, Total
Balance as of 12/31/2010			$ 35	$ 49
Charges, Total				11
Cash Payments, Total				(24)
Assets Impairment, Total				(1)
Balance as of 6/30/2011	35			35
Restructuring and long lived asset impairment charges (Textuals)
Restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges	2	7		11	19
Total restructuring reserve	35			35
Cash Payments, Total				(24)
Severance		4		4	9
Lease obligations	1			2
Asset Impairments and Lease Obligations		1		1	6
Other Exit Costs	1	2		4	4
Expected future restructuring-related payments			11			9
Expected future restructuring-related payments after 2012						15
North American Gypsum [Member]
Restructuring and long lived asset impairment charges (Textuals)
Restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges	2			9
Building Products Distribution [Member]
Restructuring and long lived asset impairment charges (Textuals)
Restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges				1
Corporate [Member]
Restructuring and long lived asset impairment charges (Textuals)
Restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges				1
Severance [Member]
Balance, Total
Balance as of 12/31/2010				11
Charges, Total				4
Cash Payments, Total				(11)
Balance as of 6/30/2011	4			4
Restructuring and long lived asset impairment charges (Textuals)
Total restructuring reserve	4			4
Cash Payments, Total				(11)
Lease obligations [Member]
Balance, Total
Balance as of 12/31/2010				29
Charges, Total				2
Cash Payments, Total				(8)
Balance as of 6/30/2011	23			23
Restructuring and long lived asset impairment charges (Textuals)
Total restructuring reserve	23			23
Cash Payments, Total				(8)
Asset impairments [Member]
Balance, Total
Balance as of 12/31/2010				0
Charges, Total				1
Assets Impairment, Total				(1)
Balance as of 6/30/2011	0			0
Restructuring and long lived asset impairment charges (Textuals)
Total restructuring reserve	0			0
Other exit costs [Member]
Balance, Total
Balance as of 12/31/2010				9
Charges, Total				4
Cash Payments, Total				(5)
Balance as of 6/30/2011	8			8
Restructuring and long lived asset impairment charges (Textuals)
Total restructuring reserve	8			8
Cash Payments, Total				$ (5)