BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Detail) - Summary of reconciliation of segment profit before taxes and operations (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	$ 237,221			$ 214,243			$ 672,199	$ 644,825
Consolidated net sales	480,246			455,282			1,413,709	1,345,813
Segment operating profit (loss):
Segment operating profit	28,202			15,006			62,698	36,595
Unallocated amounts	(7,253)			(7,781)			(20,041)	(19,468)
Loss from debt extinguishment, net	0			0	(26,164)		0	(26,164)
Net interest expense	(12,855)			(12,463)			(38,775)	(34,839)
Segment depreciation and amortization	(16,733)			(15,607)			(48,373)	(44,817)
Restructuring charges	0	0	(1,795)	(2,118)	(1,212)	(1,393)	(1,795)	(4,723)
Fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold	0			0			0	(15,152)
Acquisition costs	0			0			(178)	0
Income (loss) before taxes	14,993			2,688			24,646	(21,001)
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs:
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs	51,834			40,657			133,808	124,162
Unallocated amounts, less acquisition costs	(7,253)			(7,781)			(20,041)	(19,468)
DEPRECIATION and AMORTIZATION
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	16,832			15,700			48,668	45,078
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	17,490			23,237			57,695	64,974
Ames True Temper Inc [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	130,311			114,144			362,374	353,985
Segment operating profit (loss):
Restructuring charges				(560)			(273)	(683)
Clopay Building Products [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	106,910			100,099			309,825	290,840
Telephonics [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Consolidated net sales	101,116			103,530			319,621	315,334
Segment operating profit (loss):
Segment operating profit	14,113			9,725			40,171	31,643
Segment depreciation and amortization	1,773			1,794			5,219	5,211
Restructuring charges			(1,522)			(603)
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs:
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs	15,886			12,122			46,912	37,457
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	4,462			3,854			8,246	5,992
Plastics [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Consolidated net sales	141,909			137,509			421,889	385,654
Segment operating profit (loss):
Segment operating profit	3,506			(305)			7,879	9,007
Segment depreciation and amortization	6,611			6,353			19,583	18,058
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs:
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs	10,117			6,048			27,462	27,065
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	7,037			14,415			28,811	40,031
Home And Building Products [Member]
Segment operating profit (loss):
Segment operating profit	17,482			13,512			35,412	18,820
Segment depreciation and amortization	8,349			7,460			23,571	21,548
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs:
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs	25,831			22,487			59,434	59,640
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	5,974			4,855			20,547	18,630
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment operating profit (loss):
Segment operating profit	35,101			22,932			83,462	59,470
Segment depreciation and amortization	16,733			15,607			48,373	44,817
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	17,473			23,124			57,604	64,653
Corporate [Member]
DEPRECIATION and AMORTIZATION
Consolidated depreciation and amortization	99			93			295	261
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures	$ 17			$ 113			$ 91	$ 321