BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Detail) - Summary of Reconciliation of Segment Profit Before Taxes and Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Home & Building Products:
consolidated net sales	$ 488,743,000		$ 482,431,000		$ 912,492,000	$ 933,462,000
Segment operating profit:
segment operating profit	10,102,000		16,649,000		24,445,000	34,495,000
Net interest expense	(12,909,000)		(12,919,000)		(25,988,000)	(25,919,000)
Unallocated amounts	(7,980,000)		(6,453,000)		(15,567,000)	(12,787,000)
Loss on pension settlement		(2,142,000)	0		(2,142,000)
Income (loss) before taxes	(2,385,000)		4,759,000		(635,000)	9,652,000
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment adjusted EBITDA	45,412,000		40,353,000		88,334,000	81,971,000
Net interest expense	(12,909,000)		(12,919,000)		(25,988,000)	(25,919,000)
Segment depreciation and amortization	(17,572,000)		(16,222,000)		(34,828,000)	(31,640,000)
Unallocated amounts	(7,980,000)		(6,453,000)		(15,567,000)	(12,787,000)
Restructuring charges	(9,336,000)	(1,108,000)	0	(1,795,000)	(10,444,000)	(1,795,000)
Acquisition costs						(178,000)
Loss on pension settlement		(2,142,000)	0		(2,142,000)
Income (loss) before taxes	(2,385,000)		4,759,000		(635,000)	9,652,000
Segment:
segment depreciation and amortization	17,572,000		16,222,000		34,828,000	31,640,000
consolidated depreciation and amortization	17,681,000		16,321,000		35,038,000	31,836,000
Segment:
capital expenditures	13,707,000		20,313,000		30,995,000	40,205,000
Ames True Temper Inc [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	136,237,000		133,321,000		213,546,000	232,061,000
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Restructuring charges					(8,000,000)
Clopay Building Products [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	89,499,000		91,269,000		202,366,000	202,915,000
Home And Building Products [Member]
Home & Building Products:
Home & Building Products	225,736,000		224,590,000		415,912,000	434,976,000
Segment operating profit:
segment operating profit	3,835,000		8,096,000		11,106,000	17,930,000
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment adjusted EBITDA	17,555,000		15,853,000		34,794,000	33,603,000
Segment depreciation and amortization	(9,157,000)		(7,757,000)		(18,017,000)	(15,222,000)
Restructuring charges	(4,563,000)				(5,671,000)	(273,000)
Segment:
segment depreciation and amortization	9,157,000		7,757,000		18,017,000	15,222,000
Segment:
capital expenditures	6,711,000		8,305,000		15,804,000	14,573,000
Telephonics [Member]
Home & Building Products:
consolidated net sales	121,631,000		113,992,000		217,681,000	218,506,000
Segment operating profit:
segment operating profit	13,753,000		13,543,000		28,398,000	26,056,000
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment adjusted EBITDA	15,505,000		15,336,000		31,869,000	31,024,000
Segment depreciation and amortization	(1,752,000)		(1,793,000)		(3,471,000)	(3,446,000)
Restructuring charges		(1,522,000)
Segment:
segment depreciation and amortization	1,752,000		1,793,000		3,471,000	3,446,000
Segment:
capital expenditures	2,630,000		2,554,000		3,452,000	3,784,000
Plastics [Member]
Home & Building Products:
consolidated net sales	141,376,000		143,849,000		278,899,000	279,980,000
Segment operating profit:
segment operating profit	916,000		2,492,000		3,558,000	4,372,000
Segment adjusted EBITDA:
Segment adjusted EBITDA	12,352,000		9,164,000		21,671,000	17,344,000
Segment depreciation and amortization	(6,663,000)		(6,672,000)		(13,340,000)	(12,972,000)
Segment:
segment depreciation and amortization	6,663,000		6,672,000		13,340,000	12,972,000
Segment:
capital expenditures	4,333,000		9,446,000		11,701,000	21,774,000
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment operating profit:
segment operating profit	18,504,000		24,131,000		43,062,000	48,358,000
Segment:
capital expenditures	13,674,000		20,305,000		30,957,000	40,131,000
Corporate [Member]
Segment:
consolidated depreciation and amortization	109,000		99,000		210,000	196,000
Segment:
capital expenditures	$ 33,000		$ 8,000		$ 38,000	$ 74,000