Segment Information - Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2012	Jun. 29, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	$ 219,173			$ 246,780			$ 641,648	$ 714,017
Intersegment, net sales	0			0			0	0
Total net sales	219,173			246,780			641,648	714,017
Income (loss) from operations	6,610			3,776			14,389	13,157
Depreciation and amortization	8,624			9,318			25,938	28,064
Capital expenditures	1,939			2,392			4,586	8,382
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Other Information about Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments							4
U.S. Residential Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	77,469			90,407			214,665	233,519
Intersegment, net sales	191			318			774	833
Total net sales	77,660			90,725			215,439	234,352
Income (loss) from operations	7,475			7,889			18,261	18,021
Depreciation and amortization	2,926	2,872	2,867	2,976	3,062	2,966	8,665	9,004
Capital expenditures	345			263			1,085	698
U.S. Commercial Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	79,334			79,766			222,267	224,661
Intersegment, net sales	33			137			162	207
Total net sales	79,367			79,903			222,429	224,868
Income (loss) from operations	1,707			(2,998)			165	(3,035)
Depreciation and amortization	2,686	2,690	2,713	2,717	2,733	2,774	8,089	8,224
Capital expenditures	329			975			724	3,010
European Roll Coated Aluminum
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	48,540			57,410			152,012	190,399
Intersegment, net sales	176			98			441	494
Total net sales	48,716			57,508			152,453	190,893
Income (loss) from operations	2,095			1,953			7,979	11,390
Depreciation and amortization	2,299			2,730			7,054	8,165
Capital expenditures	493			626			1,243	1,389
European Engineered Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	13,830			19,197			52,704	65,438
Intersegment, net sales	0			0			0	0
Total net sales	13,830			19,197			52,704	65,438
Income (loss) from operations	(1,461)			(1,032)			(2,304)	(489)
Depreciation and amortization	615			812			1,868	2,440
Capital expenditures	89			203			541	1,385
Other Non-Allocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	0			0			0	0
Intersegment, net sales	0			0			0	0
Total net sales	0			0			0	0
Income (loss) from operations	(3,206)			(2,036)			(9,712)	(12,730)
Depreciation and amortization	98			83			262	231
Capital expenditures	683			325			993	1,900
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	0			0			0	0
Intersegment, net sales	(400)			(553)			(1,377)	(1,534)
Total net sales	(400)			(553)			(1,377)	(1,534)
Income (loss) from operations	0			0			0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0			0			0	0
Capital expenditures	$ 0			$ 0			$ 0	$ 0
U.S.
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Other Information about Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Number of legal entities into which US operating companies are organized							1
Number of reportable segments							2