Business Segments - Financial Data for Continuing Operations for Company's Reportable Business Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	$ 1,202,403	$ 1,063,524	$ 2,004,407	$ 1,907,383
Earnings (Loss) from operations	263,953	212,852	303,034	290,002
Total assets employed	9,596,752	7,515,860	9,596,752	7,515,860	$ 8,992,511
Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	1,128,777	996,843	1,882,082	1,789,159
Building Materials Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	1,129,441	993,495	1,862,183	1,768,778
Earnings (Loss) from operations	263,605	212,188	306,765	296,878
Total assets employed	9,187,941	7,137,562	9,187,941	7,137,562	7,163,442
Building Materials Business | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	1,060,620	931,115	1,749,057	1,659,130
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Mid-America Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	350,592	290,898	529,373	479,918
Earnings (Loss) from operations	108,709	85,363	114,876	98,705
Total assets employed	2,810,643	1,509,329	2,810,643	1,509,329	1,532,867
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Mid-America Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	325,578	269,914	493,468	447,321
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Southeast Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	112,963	92,348	193,202	182,630
Earnings (Loss) from operations	32,052	14,334	34,093	24,449
Total assets employed	1,297,674	598,365	1,297,674	598,365	616,344
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Southeast Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	109,082	88,538	186,646	175,264
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business West Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	665,886	610,249	1,139,608	1,106,230
Earnings (Loss) from operations	122,844	112,491	157,796	173,724
Total assets employed	5,079,624	5,029,868	5,079,624	5,029,868	5,014,231
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business West Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	625,960	572,663	1,068,943	1,036,545
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	1,129,441	993,495	1,862,183	1,768,778
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	72,962	70,029	142,224	138,605
Earnings (Loss) from operations	21,329	21,118	42,565	40,999
Total assets employed	151,182	146,925	151,182	146,925	152,257
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total	68,157	65,728	133,025	130,029
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from operations	(20,981)	(20,454)	(46,296)	(47,875)
Total assets employed	$ 257,629	$ 231,373	$ 257,629	$ 231,373	$ 1,676,812