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Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 segment month | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |  |  |
High end of the range of the required percentage voting interest held to account for investments with the equity method of accounting | 50.00% |  |
Original or remaining maturity period of investment classified as cash or cash equivalent (in months) | 3 |  |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts |  |  |
Percentage reserved for accounts receivable due from customers in deteriorating financial condition | 100.00% |  |
Fair value of financial instruments |  |  |
United States Treasury securities and money market funds included in cash equivalents | $ 53.3 |  |
Product Research and Development Costs |  |  |
Product Research and Development Costs | 6.1 | 6.5 | 5.9
Selling Costs |  |  |
Advertising expenses | $ 6.3 | $ 5.4 | $ 5.3
Segments and Discontinued Operations |  |  |
Number of reportable segments prior to the sale of Simpson Dura-Vent Company, Inc. | 2 |  |
Number of reportable segments | 3 |  |
Maximum |  |  |
Revenue Recognition |  |  |
Service sales as a percentage of net sales | 1.00% |  |
Software |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment |  |  |
Estimated useful life, minimum (in years) | 3 |  |
Estimated useful life, maximum (in years) | 5 |  |
Machinery and equipment |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment |  |  |
Estimated useful life, minimum (in years) | 3 |  |
Estimated useful life, maximum (in years) | 10 |  |
Buildings and site improvements |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment |  |  |
Estimated useful life, minimum (in years) | 15 |  |
Estimated useful life, maximum (in years) | 45 |  |

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- Definition The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 985 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128462-111756 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 730 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420194&loc=d3e21568-108373 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph g -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 2 -Paragraph 12, 13 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 86 -Paragraph 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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