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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation expense | $ 3,800,000 | $ 3,600,000 | $ 3,600,000
Net income tax payments | $ 70,000 | 611,000 | 193,000
Uncertain tax positions | 50.00% |  |
Advertising costs | $ 0 | 0 | 0
Research, development and certain sales technical support costs | 0 | 0 | 0
Environmental Remediation Litigation |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Recoveries receivable | $ 0 | 0 |
Minimum | Building |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives | 15 years |  |
Minimum | Equipment and Software |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives | 3 years |  |
Maximum | Building |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives | 40 years |  |
Maximum | Equipment and Software |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives | 20 years |  |
Kronos |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Parent company ownership interest | 30.00% |  |
Valhi Inc |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Parent company ownership interest | 83.00% |  |
Net income tax refunds |  |  | $ 100,000
Net income tax payments |  | $ 600,000 |
Valhi Inc | Maximum |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Net income tax payments | $ 100,000 |  |
Valhi Inc | Contran Corporation |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Parent company ownership interest | 93.00% |  |
CompX |  |  |
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of controlling interest owned | 13.00% |  |

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- Definition Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 720 -SubTopic 35 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848 + Details
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