Commitments and Contingencies (Restructuring activity) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 14,845	$ 13,511
Restructuring	18,564	23,209	12,341
Cash payments	(12,502)	(10,963)
Non-cash items	(10,552)	(10,912)
Ending balance	10,355	14,845	13,511
Asset write-downs [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	10,956	10,983
Cash payments	(3,872)	(3,707)
Non-cash items	0	0
Ending balance	7,457	10,956
Lease Impairments [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	0
Cash payments	0	0
Non-cash items	(10,552)	(10,643)
Ending balance	0	0
Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,378	2,108
Cash payments	(7,333)	(4,850)
Non-cash items	0	0
Ending balance	2,898	2,378
Other Restructuring Costs [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,511	420
Cash payments	(1,297)	(2,406)
Non-cash items	0	(269)
Ending balance	0	1,511
Unilin Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	1,951
Unilin Segment [Member] | Asset write-downs [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	0
Unilin Segment [Member] | Lease Impairments [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	138
Unilin Segment [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	1,775
Unilin Segment [Member] | Other Restructuring Costs [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	38
Mohawk Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	10,504	23,209
Mohawk Segment [Member] | Asset write-downs [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	0	3,680
Mohawk Segment [Member] | Lease Impairments [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	6,687	10,643
Mohawk Segment [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	4,069	5,120
Mohawk Segment [Member] | Other Restructuring Costs [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	(252)	3,766
Dal Tile Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	6,109
Dal Tile Segment [Member] | Asset write-downs [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	373
Dal Tile Segment [Member] | Lease Impairments [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	3,727
Dal Tile Segment [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	2,009
Dal Tile Segment [Member] | Other Restructuring Costs [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring	$ 0