Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Y	Dec. 31, 2010 Y	Dec. 31, 2009
Changes in carrying amount of goodwill
Gross Goodwill	$ 4,210	$ 4,216	$ 4,210	$ 4,216	$ 4,230
Accumulated Impairment Losses	2,319	(1,833)	2,319	(1,833)	(1,122)
Goodwill	1,891	2,383	1,891	2,383	3,108
Additions			9	0
Discontinued Operations			(13)	(14)
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			(486)	(697)
Other			(2)	(14)
Pre-tax impairment charges for other indefinite-lived intangible assets			8	10
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			486	697
Charges for write-down of goodwill			(13)	(14)
Pre- tax impairment charge to discontinued operation			14
After tax impairment charges for goodwill	335	586	330	586
Write-down of finite lived intangible assets			56
After tax impairment charges for other indefinite-lived intangible assets			5	6
Weighted average amortization period			15	15
Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets			6	6	6
Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets, 2012			6
Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets, 2013			4
Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets, 2014			4
Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets, 2015			2
Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets, 2016			2
Other indefinite-lived intangible assets	174	185	174	185
Carrying value of definite-lived intangible assets	22	84	22	84
Accumulated amortization	54	75	54	75
Cabinets and Related Products [Member]
Changes in carrying amount of goodwill
Gross Goodwill	589	587	589	587	590
Accumulated Impairment Losses	(408)	(364)	(408)	(364)	(364)
Goodwill	181	223	181	223	226
Additions			0	0
Discontinued Operations			0	0
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			(44)	0
Other			2	(3)
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			44	0
Charges for write-down of goodwill			0	0
Plumbing Products [Member]
Changes in carrying amount of goodwill
Gross Goodwill	541	536	541	536	547
Accumulated Impairment Losses	(340)	(340)	(340)	(340)	(340)
Goodwill	201	196	201	196	207
Additions			9	0
Discontinued Operations			0	0
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			0	0
Other			(4)	(11)
Pre-tax impairment charges for other indefinite-lived intangible assets				1
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			0	0
Charges for write-down of goodwill			0	0
Installation and Other Services [Member]
Changes in carrying amount of goodwill
Gross Goodwill	1,806	1,819	1,806	1,819	1,819
Accumulated Impairment Losses	(762)	(762)	(762)	(762)	(51)
Goodwill	1,044	1,057	1,044	1,057	1,768
Additions			0	0
Discontinued Operations			(13)	(14)
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			0	(697)
Other			0	0
Pre-tax impairment charges for other indefinite-lived intangible assets			9	9
Pre-tax impairment charges for goodwill				(711)
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			0	697
Charges for write-down of goodwill			(13)	(14)
Decorative Architectural Products [Member]
Changes in carrying amount of goodwill
Gross Goodwill	294	294	294	294	294
Accumulated Impairment Losses	(75)	0	(75)	0	0
Goodwill	219	294	219	294	294
Additions			0	0
Discontinued Operations			0	0
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			(75)	0
Other			0	0
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			75	0
Charges for write-down of goodwill			0	0
Other Specialty Products [Member]
Changes in carrying amount of goodwill
Gross Goodwill	980	980	980	980	980
Accumulated Impairment Losses	(734)	(367)	(734)	(367)	(367)
Goodwill	246	613	246	613	613
Additions			0	0
Discontinued Operations			0	0
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			(367)	0
Other			0	0
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Textual) [Abstract]
Pre-tax Impairment Charges for goodwill			367	0
Charges for write-down of goodwill			$ 0	$ 0