Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities - Components of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities [Line Items]
Accounts payable	$ 154.6	$ 161.3
Employee benefits	24.1	29.6
Accrued sales discounts and rebates	9.3	14.9
Accrued interest	0.1	0.2
Payable to affiliates:
Other	29.6	25.6
Total	239.9	273.2
Louisiana Pigment Company, L.P. [Member]
Payable to affiliates:
Payable to affiliates	19.9	23.5
Valhi Inc [Member]
Payable to affiliates:
Payable to affiliates	$ 2.3	$ 18.1