Marketable Securities - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]          
Pre-tax impairment charge to write down   $ 12.0      
Valhi Inc          
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]          
Pre-tax impairment charge to write down     $ 12.0    
Impairment charge realized loss, reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income along with related deferred income tax       $ 4.2  
Valhi Inc | Common stock          
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]          
Investments in publicly-traded shares       1.7 1.7
Quoted market price of per share       $ 1.34 $ 6.41
Valhi Inc | Common stock | Subsequent Event          
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]          
Difference between aggregate quoted market price and aggregate cost $ 1.0