Financial Data for Continuing Operations for Corporations Reportable Business Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 921,419	$ 669,225	$ 1,612,765	$ 1,097,855
Net Sales	850,249	601,937	1,482,124	981,615
Earnings (Loss) from operations	136,984	96,241	162,555	80,344
Operating Segments | Mid-America Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	257,649	240,526	398,482	356,235
Net Sales	237,415	218,703	367,120	325,236
Earnings (Loss) from operations	66,894	57,283	62,691	45,517
Operating Segments | Southeast Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	81,518	75,168	146,195	134,988
Net Sales	76,483	70,725	136,253	126,106
Earnings (Loss) from operations	4,818	(1,302)	3,269	(7,413)
Operating Segments | West Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	411,235	286,811	731,807	477,598
Net Sales	375,489	250,589	662,570	411,004
Earnings (Loss) from operations	49,177	30,873	63,676	32,954
Operating Segments | Cement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	105,899		207,999
Net Sales	100,405		196,970
Earnings (Loss) from operations	22,468		34,697
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	65,118	66,720	128,282	129,034
Net Sales	60,457	61,920	119,211	119,269
Earnings (Loss) from operations	18,751	20,995	36,541	37,280
Aggregates Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	750,402	602,505	1,276,484	968,821
Net Sales	689,387	540,017	1,165,943	862,346
Earnings (Loss) from operations	120,889	86,854	129,636	71,058
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from operations	$ (25,124)	$ (11,608)	$ (38,319)	$ (27,994)