Financial Data for Continuing Operations for Corporations Reportable Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,003,723	$ 665,320	$ 2,101,578	$ 1,610,555
Net Sales	917,942	600,457	1,899,557	1,451,848
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	115,956	108,843	196,300	155,157
Total Aggregates Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	823,636	604,704	1,792,457	1,428,366
Net Sales	749,749	544,663	1,612,095	1,284,253
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	163,629	97,335	234,688	125,795
Cement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	115,743		115,743
Net Sales	109,521		109,521
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	18,278		18,278
Specialty Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	64,344	60,616	193,378	182,189
Net Sales	58,672	55,794	177,941	167,595
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	17,697	17,267	54,976	53,071
Mid-America Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	271,096	255,737	627,331	592,794
Net Sales	244,309	231,807	569,545	540,209
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	71,185	67,162	116,703	100,915
Southeast Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	73,217	69,490	208,205	185,676
Net Sales	68,042	64,871	194,148	171,456
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	329	(1,386)	(7,084)	(14,949)
West Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	479,323	279,477	956,921	649,896
Net Sales	437,398	247,985	848,402	572,588
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	92,115	31,559	125,069	39,829
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from operations, Total	$ (83,648)	$ (5,759)	$ (111,642)	$ (23,709)