Segments - Consolidated Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 819	$ 851	$ 880	$ 786	$ 831	$ 795	$ 811	$ 767	$ 3,336	$ 3,204	$ 3,017
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit	$ 37	$ 69	$ 75	$ 46	$ 83	$ 91	$ 95	$ 84	227	353	396
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion									150	132	134
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									219	168	83
U.S. Wallboard and Surfaces
Net Sales:
Net sales									1,803
U.S. Performance Materials
Net Sales:
Net sales									372
U.S. Ceilings
Net Sales:
Net sales									493
Canada
Net Sales:
Net sales									417
Other
Net Sales:
Net sales									251
Operating Segments
Net Sales:
Net sales									3,560
Operating Segments | U.S. Wallboard and Surfaces
Net Sales:
Net sales									1,927	1,916	1,778
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									248	306	328
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion									97	91	87
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									131	104	60
Operating Segments | U.S. Performance Materials
Net Sales:
Net sales									392	373	357
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									(8)	24	40
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion									10	9	9
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									36	31	11
Operating Segments | U.S. Ceilings
Net Sales:
Net sales									541	477	467
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									78	92	98
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion									24	15	15
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									27	17	4
Operating Segments | Canada
Net Sales:
Net sales									448	405	389
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									19	13	27
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion									8	6	6
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									8	10	4
Operating Segments | Other
Net Sales:
Net sales									252	245	220
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									14	11	(4)
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion									5	5	7
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									10	5	3
Corporate
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									(124)	(92)	(93)
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion									6	6	10
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures									7	1	1
Eliminations
Net Sales:
Net sales									(224)	(212)	(194)
Operating Profit (Loss):
Operating profit									0	$ (1)	$ 0
Eliminations | U.S. Wallboard and Surfaces
Net Sales:
Net sales									(124)
Eliminations | U.S. Performance Materials
Net Sales:
Net sales									(20)
Eliminations | U.S. Ceilings
Net Sales:
Net sales									(48)
Eliminations | Canada
Net Sales:
Net sales									(31)
Eliminations | Other
Net Sales:
Net sales									$ (1)