BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Detail) - Summary of reconciliation of segment profit before taxes and operations (USD $) In Thousands, 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	Mar. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products										$ 856,540	$ 839,736	$ 389,366
Consolidated net sales	447,436	480,246	482,431	451,032	484,989	455,282	476,129	414,402		1,861,145	1,830,802	1,293,996
Segment operating profit:
Segment operating profit										72,420	55,549	22,721
Unallocated amounts										(26,346)	(22,868)	(27,394)
Unallocated acquisition costs										0	0	(9,805)
Loss from debt extinguishment, net									(16,813)	0	(26,164)	(1,117)
Net interest expense										(51,715)	(47,448)	(11,913)
Income (loss) before taxes										21,941	(14,349)	13,812
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										171,032	165,633	108,324
Unallocated amounts										(26,346)	(22,868)	(27,394)
Segment depreciation and amortization										(65,864)	(60,361)	(40,103)
Restructuring charges										(4,689)	(7,543)	(4,180)
Fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold										0	(15,152)	0
Acquisition costs										(477)	(446)	(9,805)
DEPRECIATION and AMORTIZATION
Consolidated depreciation and amortization										66,264	60,712	40,442
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures										68,851	87,617	40,477
Ames True Temper Inc [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products										433,866	434,789	0
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs:
Restructuring charges										(874)	(886)
Clopay Building Products [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products										422,674	404,947	389,366
Telephonics [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Consolidated net sales										441,503	455,353	434,516
Segment operating profit:
Segment operating profit										49,232	40,595	38,586
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										60,565	50,875	46,120
Segment depreciation and amortization										7,518	7,234	7,534
Restructuring charges										(3,815)	(3,046)
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures										11,979	8,291	12,410
Plastics [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Consolidated net sales										563,102	535,713	470,114
Segment operating profit:
Segment operating profit										13,688	13,308	20,469
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										40,000	37,639	42,853
Segment depreciation and amortization										26,312	24,331	22,384
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures										32,069	50,824	16,819
Home And Building Products [Member]
Segment operating profit:
Segment operating profit										37,082	28,228	4,986
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										70,467	77,119	19,351
Segment depreciation and amortization										32,034	28,796	10,185
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures										24,648	28,083	10,527
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment operating profit:
Segment operating profit										100,002	82,131	64,041
Segment profit before depreciation, amortization, restructuring, fair value write-up of acquired inventory sold and acquisition costs:
Segment depreciation and amortization										65,864	60,361	40,103
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures										68,696	87,198	39,756
Corporate [Member]
DEPRECIATION and AMORTIZATION
Consolidated depreciation and amortization										400	351	339
Segment:
Consolidated capital expenditures										$ 155	$ 419	$ 721