RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Building Products Restructuring Plan plant	Dec. 31, 2008 Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan lb	Jun. 30, 2011 Oklahoma City Restructuring Plan	Jun. 30, 2012 Chlorovinyls Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2011 Chlorovinyls Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2011 Chlorovinyls Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan Involuntary termination benefits	Dec. 31, 2011 Chlorovinyls Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2011 Chlorovinyls Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan Exit costs	Jun. 30, 2011 Chlorovinyls Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan Exit costs	Jun. 30, 2012 Building Products 2011 Building Products Restructuring Plan Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2012 Building Products 2011 Building Products Restructuring Plan Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2012 Building Products Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2011 Building Products Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2012 Building Products Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2011 Building Products Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan Involuntary termination benefits	May 31, 2011 Building Products Other Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2012 Building Products Other Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2011 Building Products Other Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2012 Building Products Other Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2011 Building Products Other Involuntary termination benefits	Dec. 31, 2011 Window and door profiles business plant	Dec. 31, 2011 Pipe business plant	Jun. 30, 2012 Corporate Other Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2011 Corporate Other Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2012 Corporate Other Involuntary termination benefits	Jun. 30, 2011 Corporate Other Involuntary termination benefits
Restructuring activities
Number of plants under consolidation					3																				2	1
Production capacity of manufacturing facility permanently shut down (in pounds)						450,000,000
Settlement of pension and postretirement benefits from permanently shut down PVC manufacturing facility paid										$ 600,000
Proceeds recovered related to the sale of manufacturing equipment							1,200,000
Restructuring activities, by reportable segment
Balance at the beginning of the period	3,181,000	1,405,000	3,403,000	1,648,000				70,000	89,000	108,000	69,000	134,000	130,000	1,875,000	2,061,000	916,000	958,000	898,000	1,168,000		163,000	63,000	221,000	86,000			157,000	161,000	154,000	156,000
Additions	(3,000)	(707,000)	376,000	(125,000)						634,000		(1,150,000)	(1,150,000)	(3,000)	110,000				(52,000)	400,000		443,000	(5,000)	443,000					271,000
Cash Payments	(795,000)	11,000	(1,181,000)	(981,000)					(17,000)	(806,000)		116,000	116,000	(446,000)	(778,000)	(220,000)	(15,000)	(220,000)	(194,000)		(25,000)	(73,000)	(79,000)	(97,000)			(104,000)		(104,000)
Foreign Exchange and Other Adjustments	206,000	1,158,000	(9,000)	1,325,000				(1,000)	1,000	137,000		1,151,000	1,155,000	(37,000)	(4,000)	(20,000)	4,000	(2,000)	25,000		(3,000)	1,000	(2,000)	2,000			267,000	1,000	(1,000)	6,000
Balance at the end of the period	2,589,000	1,867,000	2,589,000	1,867,000				69,000	73,000	73,000	69,000	251,000	251,000	1,389,000	1,389,000	676,000	947,000	676,000	947,000		135,000	434,000	135,000	434,000			320,000	162,000	320,000	162,000
Net reversal of impairment of tangible long-lived assets	500,000		800,000
Professional fees associated with unsolicited offer to acquire business	$ 7,100,000		$ 12,000,000