Business Segments - Financial Data for Continuing Operations for Company's Reportable Business Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 1,279,468	$ 1,202,403	$ 2,218,423	$ 2,004,407
Earnings (Loss) from operations	285,882	263,953	355,103	303,034
Assets employed	10,163,657		10,163,657		$ 9,551,419
Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,196,135	1,128,777	2,074,440	1,882,082
Building Materials Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,203,229	1,129,441	2,068,110	1,862,183
Earnings (Loss) from operations	284,589	263,605	356,613	306,765
Assets employed	9,705,314		9,705,314		9,077,562
Building Materials Business | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,125,756	1,060,620	1,934,887	1,749,057
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Mid-America Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	415,327	350,592	664,140	529,373
Earnings (Loss) from operations	141,678	108,709	172,633	114,876
Assets employed	2,906,227		2,906,227		2,788,454
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Mid-America Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	382,717	325,578	613,025	493,468
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Southeast Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	137,024	112,963	256,262	193,202
Earnings (Loss) from operations	32,688	32,052	53,822	34,093
Assets employed	1,443,402		1,443,402		1,299,469
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Southeast Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	132,036	109,082	247,348	186,646
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business West Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	650,878	665,886	1,147,708	1,139,608
Earnings (Loss) from operations	110,223	122,844	130,158	157,796
Assets employed	5,355,685		5,355,685		4,989,639
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business West Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	611,003	625,960	1,074,514	1,068,943
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	76,239	72,962	150,313	142,224
Earnings (Loss) from operations	25,219	21,329	47,862	42,565
Assets employed	176,484		176,484		156,106
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	70,379	68,157	139,553	133,025
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,203,229	1,129,441	2,068,110	1,862,183
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from operations	(23,926)	$ (20,981)	(49,372)	$ (46,296)
Assets employed	$ 281,859		$ 281,859		$ 317,751