Revenues and Gross Profit - Total Revenues and Gross Profit by Product Line (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,279,468	$ 1,202,403	$ 2,218,423	$ 2,004,407
Gross profit (loss)	356,867	315,917	499,774	426,309
Interproduct Revenues
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(67,772)	(78,178)	(126,135)	(138,843)
Corporate
Product Information [Line Items]
Gross profit (loss)	195	3,168	(279)	5,053
Building Materials Business
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,203,229	1,129,441	2,068,110	1,862,183
Building Materials Business | Operating Segments
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,203,229	1,129,441	2,068,110	1,862,183
Gross profit (loss)	328,634	288,907	446,473	373,526
Building Materials Business | Operating Segments | Products and Services
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,125,756	1,060,620	1,934,887	1,749,057
Gross profit (loss)	328,407	288,309	446,410	373,046
Magnesia Specialties | Operating Segments
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	76,239	72,962	150,313	142,224
Gross profit (loss)	28,038	23,842	53,580	47,730
Magnesia Specialties | Operating Segments | Products and Services
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	70,379	68,157	139,553	133,025
Gross profit (loss)	29,212	24,870	55,819	49,933
Aggregates | Building Materials Business | Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Products and Services
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	757,802	666,966	1,302,750	1,094,139
Gross profit (loss)	251,422	198,705	349,482	252,246
Cement | Building Materials Business | Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Products and Services
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	112,350	113,148	211,367	202,331
Gross profit (loss)	42,229	41,305	56,007	65,038
Ready Mixed Concrete | Building Materials Business | Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Products and Services
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	241,178	277,202	452,335	495,738
Gross profit (loss)	19,014	29,952	33,506	45,593
Asphalt and Paving | Building Materials Business | Operating Segments | Reportable Subsegments | Products and Services
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	82,198	81,482	94,570	95,692
Gross profit (loss)	15,742	18,347	7,415	10,169
Freight
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	83,333	73,626	143,983	122,325
Freight | Building Materials Business
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	77,473	68,821	133,223	113,126
Freight | Building Materials Business | Operating Segments
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	77,473	68,821	133,223	113,126
Gross profit (loss)	227	598	63	480
Freight | Magnesia Specialties | Operating Segments
Product Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	5,860	4,805	10,760	9,199
Gross profit (loss)	$ (1,174)	$ (1,028)	$ (2,239)	$ (2,203)