Segments - Consolidated Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 831	$ 795	$ 811	$ 767	$ 734	$ 767	$ 769	$ 747	$ 3,204	$ 3,017	$ 2,913
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit	87	$ 93	$ 96	$ 91	59	$ 97	$ 122	$ 116	367	394	355
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									132	134	131
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									168	83	87
Assets:
Assets	3,851				3,869				3,851	3,869	4,736
Equity method investments	686				628				686	628
Consolidation, Eliminations
Net Sales:
Net sales									(9)	(9)	(9)
Operating Segments | U.S. Wallboard and Surfaces
Net Sales:
Net sales									1,916	1,778	1,720
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									314	334	298
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									91	87	85
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									104	60	73
Assets:
Assets	1,574				1,540				1,574	1,540	1,590
Operating Segments | U.S. Performance Materials
Net Sales:
Net sales									373	357	321
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									26	41	31
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									9	9	8
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									31	11	4
Assets:
Assets	172				154				172	154	147
Operating Segments | U.S. Ceilings
Net Sales:
Net sales									477	467	464
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									95	101	80
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									15	15	15
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									17	4	3
Assets:
Assets	307				225				307	225	267
Operating Segments | Canada
Net Sales:
Net sales									405	389	372
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									12	26	10
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									6	6	6
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									10	4	4
Assets:
Assets	134				124				134	124	126
Operating Segments | Other
Net Sales:
Net sales									245	220	239
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									11	(4)	30
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									5	7	8
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									5	3	3
Assets:
Assets	144				135				144	135	160
Eliminations
Net Sales:
Net sales									(212)	(194)	(203)
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									(1)	0	0
Assets:
Assets	(22)				(17)				(22)	(17)	(76)
Corporate
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									(90)	(104)	(94)
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									6	10	9
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									1	1	0
Assets:
Assets	856				1,080				856	1,080	1,483
Segment Reconciling Items
Assets:
Equity method investments	686				628				686	628	682
Assets related to discontinued operations	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0	$ 357