Business Segments - Financial Data for Continuing Operations for Company's Reportable Business Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 1,219,640	$ 1,087,732	$ 3,224,047	$ 2,995,116
Earnings (Loss) from operations	240,662	226,964	543,696	516,967
Total assets employed	9,588,171	7,566,785	9,588,171	7,566,785	$ 8,992,511
Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,142,218	1,022,487	3,024,300	2,811,646
Building Materials Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,146,117	1,023,827	3,008,300	2,792,606
Earnings (Loss) from operations	238,806	220,639	545,570	517,516
Total assets employed	9,134,806	7,174,841	9,134,806	7,174,841	7,163,442
Building Materials Business | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,073,853	962,598	2,822,910	2,621,728
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Mid-America Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	377,005	308,472	906,377	788,390
Earnings (Loss) from operations	120,344	106,235	235,221	204,939
Total assets employed	2,802,054	1,538,594	2,802,054	1,538,594	1,532,867
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Mid-America Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	348,429	287,085	841,897	734,406
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Southeast Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	125,547	94,843	318,749	277,474
Earnings (Loss) from operations	26,372	17,882	60,464	42,331
Total assets employed	1,300,090	604,144	1,300,090	604,144	616,344
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Southeast Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	121,661	91,427	308,306	266,690
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business West Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	643,565	620,512	1,783,174	1,726,742
Earnings (Loss) from operations	92,090	96,522	249,885	270,246
Total assets employed	5,032,662	5,032,103	5,032,662	5,032,103	5,014,231
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business West Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	603,763	584,086	1,672,707	1,620,632
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,146,117	1,023,827	3,008,300	2,792,606
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	73,523	63,905	215,747	202,510
Earnings (Loss) from operations	23,301	17,590	65,867	58,589
Total assets employed	141,998	148,581	141,998	148,581	152,257
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	68,365	59,889	201,390	189,918
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from operations	(21,445)	(11,265)	(67,741)	(59,138)
Total assets employed	$ 311,367	$ 243,363	$ 311,367	$ 243,363	$ 1,676,812