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Investment in Affiliate and Other Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Apr. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012
Other Assets Non Current [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ 432.0 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 476.5 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 491.7 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 462.4 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 400.1 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 448.2 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 516.1 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 499.2 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 1,862.6 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 1,863.6 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet | $ 2,087.3 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |  |  |
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 112.0 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | (217.9)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | 301.4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |  |  |
Net income (loss) | 13.7 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 37.5 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 23.7 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 4.6 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 10.8 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | (40.9)us-gaap_ProfitLoss | (48.6)us-gaap_ProfitLoss | (48.2)us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 79.5 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | (126.9)us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 222.1 us-gaap_ProfitLoss |  |  |
Capitalized operating permits, net of amortization | 53.2 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCostsNet |  |  |  | 59.5 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCostsNet |  |  |  | 53.2 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCostsNet | 59.5 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCostsNet |  |  |  |
Assets held for sale write-down |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.2 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf |  |  |
Loss on sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.9 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment | 0.5 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment | (1.5)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment |  |  |
Collateral Trust |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets Non Current [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in restricted cash |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18.0 us-gaap_DecreaseInRestrictedCash / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = vhi_CollateralTrustMember |  |
Capitalized Operating Permit Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets Non Current [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of capitalized operating permit costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.6 us-gaap_OtherAmortizationOfDeferredCharges / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember | 6.5 us-gaap_OtherAmortizationOfDeferredCharges / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember | 4.9 us-gaap_OtherAmortizationOfDeferredCharges / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember |  |  |
Capitalized operating permits, net of amortization | 25.3 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCostsNet / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember |  |  |  | 18.8 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCostsNet / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember |  |  |  | 25.3 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCostsNet / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember | 18.8 us-gaap_OtherDeferredCostsNet / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember |  |  |  |
Capitalized Operating Permit Costs | Permits Subject to Amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets Non Current [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of capitalized operating permit, 2015 | 6.3 vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = vhi_PermitsSubjectToAmortizationMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.3 vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = vhi_PermitsSubjectToAmortizationMember |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of capitalized operating permit, 2016 | 6.3 vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = vhi_PermitsSubjectToAmortizationMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.3 vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = vhi_PermitsSubjectToAmortizationMember |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of capitalized operating permit, 2017 | 6.3 vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitsAmortizationExpenseYearThree / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = vhi_PermitsSubjectToAmortizationMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.3 vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitsAmortizationExpenseYearThree / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = vhi_PermitsSubjectToAmortizationMember |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of capitalized operating permit, 2018 | 6.3 vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitsAmortizationExpenseYearFour / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = vhi_PermitsSubjectToAmortizationMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.3 vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitsAmortizationExpenseYearFour / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = vhi_PermitsSubjectToAmortizationMember |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of capitalized operating permit, 2019 | 6.3 vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitsAmortizationExpenseYearFive / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = vhi_PermitsSubjectToAmortizationMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.3 vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitsAmortizationExpenseYearFive / us-gaap_AmortizationExpensePerUnitOfProductionByCostCenterAxis = vhi_CapitalizedOperatingPermitCostsMember / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = vhi_PermitsSubjectToAmortizationMember |  |  |  |  |
Basic Management Inc And Landwell |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets Non Current [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  | 15.9 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = vhi_BasicManagementIncAndLandwellMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |  |  |  |  | 6.9 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = vhi_BasicManagementIncAndLandwellMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) |  |  |  |  | 5.3 us-gaap_ProfitLoss / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = vhi_BasicManagementIncAndLandwellMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
BMI |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets Non Current [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity ownership percentage |  |  |  |  | 32.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = vhi_BasicManagementMember |  |  |  |  | 32.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = vhi_BasicManagementMember |  |  |  |
LandWell |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets Non Current [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity ownership percentage |  |  |  |  | 12.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = vhi_LandwellMember |  |  |  |  | 12.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = vhi_LandwellMember |  |  |  |
LandWell | General Partner |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets Non Current [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Indirect controlling interest in subsidiary |  |  |  |  | 50.00%vhi_IndirectControllingInterestInSubsidiary / us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis = us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = vhi_LandwellMember |  |  |  |  | 50.00%vhi_IndirectControllingInterestInSubsidiary / us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis = us-gaap_GeneralPartnerMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = vhi_LandwellMember |  |  |  |
LPC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets Non Current [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of TiO2 from the plant |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 52.00%vhi_PercentageOfProductPurchased / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LouisianaPigmentCompanyMember |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 386.9 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LouisianaPigmentCompanyMember | 449.1 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LouisianaPigmentCompanyMember | 477.7 us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LouisianaPigmentCompanyMember |  |  |
CompX |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets Non Current [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of facilities held for sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 vhi_NumberOfFacilitiesHeldForSale / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember |  |  |
Assets held for sale write-down |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.4 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember
Net proceeds of sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.6 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember |  |  | 3.6 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember |
Loss on sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.8 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember |

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