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Other Income, Net - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | May 31, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012
Disclosure Other Income Net Additional Information Detail [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends and interest income | $ 26.6 us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeSecurities | $ 26.4 us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeSecurities | $ 28.4 us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeSecurities |  |  |  |
Insurance recoveries | 10.4 us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries | 9.4 us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries | 3.3 us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries |  |  |  |
Disposal of property and equipment, net | (0.9)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment | (0.5)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment | 1.5 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment |  |  |  |
Aggregate cash received |  |  | 15.6 us-gaap_ProceedsFromLegalSettlements |  |  |  |
Litigation settlement gains |  |  | 14.7 us-gaap_GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement |  |  |  |
TIMET |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Other Income Net Additional Information Detail [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment in common stock |  |  |  |  | 6.5 vhi_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesSharesOwned / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_TimetMember |  |
Percentage of outstanding common stock held |  |  |  |  | 3.70%vhi_CommonStockOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_TimetMember |  |
Sale of common stock |  |  |  | 107.6 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquity / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_TimetMember |  |  |
Sale of common stock, price per share |  |  | $ 16.50 us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_TimetMember | $ 16.50 us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_TimetMember |  |  |
Pre-tax gain on sale of shares |  |  |  | 21.6 us-gaap_GainOnSaleOfInvestments / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_TimetMember |  |  |
Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Other Income Net Additional Information Detail [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends and interest income | 25.4 us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeSecurities / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_AmalgamatedSugarCompanyLlcMember | 25.4 us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeSecurities / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_AmalgamatedSugarCompanyLlcMember | 25.4 us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeSecurities / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_AmalgamatedSugarCompanyLlcMember |  |  |  |
NL |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Other Income Net Additional Information Detail [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal of property and equipment, net |  |  | 3.2 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember |  |  |  |
NL | Certain Real Property Litigation Settlement |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disclosure Other Income Net Additional Information Detail [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate cash received |  |  |  |  |  | 15.6 us-gaap_ProceedsFromLegalSettlements / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = vhi_CertainRealPropertyLitigationSettlementMember |
Litigation settlement gains |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 14.7 us-gaap_GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = vhi_CertainRealPropertyLitigationSettlementMember

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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, including oil and gas property and timber property. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) recognized in settlement of litigation and insurance claims. Excludes claims within an insurance entity's normal claims settlement process. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
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- Definition The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of an investment. A gain would be recognized when the sale price of the investment is greater than the carrying value of the investment. This element refers to the Gain included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount recovered from insurance. These recoveries reduce costs and losses that are reported as a separate line item under operating expenses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
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- Definition Amount of operating dividend and interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts, on securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27723805&loc=d3e24721-111560 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 2, 3 -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.2,3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 + Details
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- Definition The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26853-111562 + Details
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