XML 55 R29.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Summary of significant accounting policies (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012
Components of Net Capitalized Permit Costs | The components of net capitalized permit costs are presented in the table below.
|  | December 31, |
|  | 2011 |  |  | 2012 |
|  | (In millions) |
Net permit costs for: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending renewals of prior permits |  | $ | .3 |  |  | $ | .2 |
Issued permits which are being amortized: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
LLRW license (expires in 2024) |  |  | — |  |  |  | 58.3 |
Byproduct license (expires in 2018) |  |  | 6.6 |  |  |  | 5.6 |
Other (expires 2013 – 2024) |  |  | 1.6 |  |  |  | 1.6 |
Total pending renewals and issued permits which are being amortized |  |  | 8.5 |  |  |  | 65.7 |
Issued permits not yet subject to amortization |  |  | 58.1 |  |  |  | — |
Total |  | $ | 66.6 |  |  | $ | 65.7 |
Computation of Depreciation of Property and Equipment | We compute depreciation of property and equipment for financial reporting purposes (including mining equipment) principally by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Asset |  | Useful lives
Buildings and improvements |  | 10 to 40 years
Machinery and equipment |  | 3 to 20 years
Mine development costs |  | Units-of-production
Landfill disposal costs |  | 15 to 39 years

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the useful life and salvage value of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph b -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Schedule Of Net Capitalized Permit Costs [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vhi_ScheduleOfNetCapitalizedPermitCostsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | vhi_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration