Business Segments - Financial Data for Continuing Operations for Company's Reportable Business Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 938,955	$ 802,004
Earnings (Loss) from operations	69,221	39,081
Assets employed	10,048,407		$ 9,551,419
Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	878,305	753,305
Building Materials Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	864,881	732,742
Earnings (Loss) from operations	72,025	43,159
Assets employed	9,572,358		9,077,562
Building Materials Business | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	809,131	688,436
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Mid-America Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	248,813	178,781
Earnings (Loss) from operations	30,955	6,167
Assets employed	2,848,652		2,788,454
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Mid-America Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	230,308	167,890
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Southeast Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	119,237	80,239
Earnings (Loss) from operations	21,134	2,041
Assets employed	1,443,597		1,299,469
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Southeast Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	115,312	77,563
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business West Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	496,831	473,722
Earnings (Loss) from operations	19,936	34,951
Assets employed	5,280,109		4,989,639
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business West Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	463,511	442,983
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	74,074	69,262
Earnings (Loss) from operations	22,642	21,237
Assets employed	170,833		156,106
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	69,174	64,869
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	864,881	732,742
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from operations	(25,446)	$ (25,315)
Assets employed	$ 305,216		$ 317,751