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Goodwill - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]      
Goodwill impairment $ 6.4us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss    
Goodwill loss of discontinued operations 14.3us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit    
Consolidated gross goodwill     396.2us-gaap_GoodwillGross
EWI      
Goodwill [Line Items]      
Goodwill impairment 6.4us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_EWIMember
   
Component Products Segment      
Goodwill [Line Items]      
Goodwill impairment   10.1us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ComponentProductsSegmentMember
 
Discontinued operations | CompX      
Goodwill [Line Items]      
Goodwill loss of discontinued operations $ 14.3us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_CompXMember
/ us-gaap_StatementOperatingActivitiesSegmentAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember