Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Disaggregation of revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2022	Feb. 28, 2021	Feb. 28, 2022	Feb. 28, 2021
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	$ 73,953	$ 68,447	$ 148,963	$ 135,623
North America
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	56,352	49,174	115,458	99,349
Asia/Middle East
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	9,454	11,873	18,112	21,333
Europe
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	7,474	6,593	14,097	13,459
All other foreign
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	673	807	1,296	1,482
Adhesives, Sealants and Additives
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	31,780	31,575	62,829	61,646
Adhesives, Sealants and Additives | North America
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	18,882	17,724	38,977	36,109
Adhesives, Sealants and Additives | Asia/Middle East
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	7,179	8,599	13,149	14,928
Adhesives, Sealants and Additives | Europe
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	5,575	5,124	10,371	10,330
Adhesives, Sealants and Additives | All other foreign
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	144	128	332	279
Industrial Tapes
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	33,330	28,345	66,091	54,836
Industrial Tapes | North America
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	29,643	24,504	59,277	47,809
Industrial Tapes | Asia/Middle East
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	1,781	2,155	3,579	3,836
Industrial Tapes | Europe
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	1,449	1,039	2,361	2,052
Industrial Tapes | All other foreign
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	457	647	874	1,139
Corrosion Protection and Waterproofing
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	8,843	8,527	20,043	19,141
Corrosion Protection and Waterproofing | North America
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	7,827	6,946	17,204	15,431
Corrosion Protection and Waterproofing | Asia/Middle East
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	494	1,119	1,384	2,569
Corrosion Protection and Waterproofing | Europe
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	450	430	1,365	1,077
Corrosion Protection and Waterproofing | All other foreign
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue	$ 72	$ 32	$ 90	$ 64