CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenue:
Light building products									$ 339,632	$ 314,062	$ 316,884
Heavy construction materials									281,672	253,300	258,264
Energy technology									11,483	20,602	9,418
Total revenue	190,107	175,621	129,632	137,427	178,283	160,657	113,204	135,820	632,787	587,964	584,566
Cost of revenue:
Light building products									241,669	238,377	227,637
Heavy construction materials									210,158	193,006	192,785
Energy technology									5,893	10,648	5,999
Total cost of revenue									457,720	442,031	426,421
Gross profit	56,702	52,358	31,565	34,442	49,039	43,988	21,077	31,829	175,067	145,933	158,145
Operating expenses:
Amortization									20,675	22,359	22,218
Research and development									8,006	6,451	8,182
Selling, general and administrative									109,838	111,358	104,013
Asset impairments and restructuring costs			700	1,400	11,700	400	4,800	1,000	2,145	17,930	3,462
Total operating expenses									140,664	158,098	137,875
Operating income (loss)									34,403	(12,165)	20,270
Other income (expense):
Net interest expense									(52,678)	(126,252)	(71,182)
Other, net									(7,493)	4,314	18,169
Total other income (expense), net									(60,171)	(121,938)	(53,013)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(25,768)	(134,103)	(32,743)
Income tax benefit (provision)									(661)	171	11,663
Loss from continuing operations									(26,429)	(133,932)	(21,080)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									(35,819)	(95,989)	(28,402)
Net loss	$ (4,906)	$ (13,036)	$ (20,558)	$ (23,748)	$ (46,732)	$ (6,348)	$ (156,154)	$ (20,687)	$ (62,248)	$ (229,921)	$ (49,482)
Basic and diluted loss per share:
From continuing operations (in dollars per share)									$ (0.43)	$ (2.21)	$ (0.35)
From discontinued operations (in dollars per share)									$ (0.59)	$ (1.59)	$ (0.48)
Loss per share, basic and diluted, total (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.39)	$ (0.77)	$ (0.10)	$ (2.58)	$ (0.34)	$ (1.02)	$ (3.80)	$ (0.83)