RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
PHH | Chlorovinyls
Related party transactions
Percentage of ownership interest in joint ventures	50.00%
Percentage of VCM produced by PHH that is sold to the Company	50.00%
Percentage of the processing costs of the joint venture paid	50.00%
Production capacity of the joint venture to produce VCM (in pounds)	1,150,000
Investment in joint ventures	$ 1,200,000	$ 3,600,000
Several manufacturing joint ventures
Related party transactions
Liabilities due to related parties	800,000	1,400,000
Receivables due from related parties	8,900,000	3,700,000
Equity in earnings from joint ventures	2,400,000	1,900,000	2,000,000
Several manufacturing joint ventures | Building Products
Related party transactions
Percentage of ownership interest in joint ventures	50.00%
Investment in joint ventures	5,200,000	6,100,000
Sales of materials to joint ventures	$ 11,000,000	$ 11,800,000	$ 12,400,000