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, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 1,420,246	$ 1,219,640	$ 3,638,668	$ 3,224,047
Earnings (Loss) from operations	345,263	240,662	700,365	543,696
Assets employed	10,223,485		10,223,485		$ 9,551,419
Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,323,160	1,142,218	3,397,599	3,024,300
Building Materials Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,355,369	1,146,117	3,423,478	3,008,300
Earnings (Loss) from operations	347,556	238,806	704,169	545,570
Assets employed	9,744,319		9,744,319		9,077,562
Building Materials Business | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,263,826	1,073,853	3,198,713	2,822,910
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Mid-America Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	448,758	377,005	1,112,897	906,377
Earnings (Loss) from operations	159,711	120,344	332,344	235,221
Assets employed	2,904,439		2,904,439		2,788,454
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Mid-America Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	411,045	348,429	1,024,069	841,897
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Southeast Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	134,138	125,547	390,399	318,749
Earnings (Loss) from operations	31,463	26,372	85,285	60,464
Assets employed	1,447,293		1,447,293		1,299,469
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business Southeast Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	129,619	121,661	376,967	308,306
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business West Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	772,473	643,565	1,920,182	1,783,174
Earnings (Loss) from operations	156,382	92,090	286,540	249,885
Assets employed	5,392,587		5,392,587		4,989,639
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business West Group | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	723,162	603,763	1,797,677	1,672,707
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	64,877	73,523	215,190	215,747
Earnings (Loss) from operations	20,097	23,301	67,959	65,867
Assets employed	163,095		163,095		156,106
Operating Segments | Magnesia Specialties | Products and Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	59,334	68,365	198,886	201,390
Operating Segments | Building Materials Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	1,355,369	1,146,117	3,423,478	3,008,300
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings (Loss) from operations	(22,390)	$ (21,445)	(71,763)	$ (67,741)
Assets employed	$ 316,071		$ 316,071		$ 317,751