Segment Information - Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2013 segments	Mar. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	$ 172,545	$ 198,683
Intersegment, net sales	0	0
Total net sales	172,545	198,683
(Loss) income from operations	(7,432)	(286)
Depreciation and amortization	8,593	8,681
Capital expenditures	2,226	1,426
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	52,118	60,646
Intersegment, net sales	135	272
Total net sales	52,253	60,918
(Loss) income from operations	(223)	3,507
Depreciation and amortization	2,925	2,867
Capital expenditures	433	451
U.S. Commercial Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	54,570	64,155
Intersegment, net sales	144	90
Total net sales	54,714	64,245
(Loss) income from operations	(4,418)	(3,053)
Depreciation and amortization	2,618	2,713
Capital expenditures	438	195
European Roll Coated Aluminum
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	48,221	54,148
Intersegment, net sales	62	158
Total net sales	48,283	54,306
(Loss) income from operations	2,487	2,593
Depreciation and amortization	2,334	2,397
Capital expenditures	741	477
European Engineered Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	17,636	19,734
Intersegment, net sales	0	0
Total net sales	17,636	19,734
(Loss) income from operations	(2,628)	(380)
Depreciation and amortization	584	622
Capital expenditures	169	303
Other Non-Allocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	0	0
Intersegment, net sales	0	0
Total net sales	0	0
(Loss) income from operations	(2,650)	(2,953)
Depreciation and amortization	132	82
Capital expenditures	445	0
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third party, net sales	0	0
Intersegment, net sales	(341)	(520)
Total net sales	(341)	(520)
(Loss) income from operations	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Capital expenditures	$ 0	$ 0