Goodwill and intangible assets (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 30, 2013

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of goodwill

Goodwill:

	Mohawk			Dal-Tile		Unilin		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2012
Goodwill	$	199,132		1,186,913		1,327,151		2,713,196
Accumulated impairment losses	(199,132		)	(531,930	)	(596,363	)	(1,327,425	)
	$	—		654,983		730,788		1,385,771
Goodwill acquired during the period	$	—		—		24,501		24,501
Currency translation during the period	$	—		—		(16,210	)	(16,210	)
Balance as of March 30, 2013
Goodwill	$	199,132		1,186,913		1,335,442		2,721,487
Accumulated impairment losses	(199,132		)	(531,930	)	(596,363	)	(1,327,425	)
	$	—		654,983		739,079		1,394,062

Schedule of indefinite life assets not subject to amortization

Intangible assets:

Indefinite life assets not subject to amortization:	Tradenames
Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	455,503
Intangible assets recognized during the period	16,835
Currency translation during the period	(8,067		)
Balance as of March 30, 2013	$	464,271

Schedule of intangible assets subject to amortization

Intangible assets subject to amortization:	Customer relationships			Patents		Other		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	26,210		71,031		1,055		98,296
Intangible assets acquired during the period	—			15,188		—		15,188
Amortization during the period	(1,219		)	(4,726	)	(29	)	(5,974	)
Currency translation during the period	—			(2,305	)	(120	)	(2,425	)
Balance as of March 30, 2013	$	24,991		79,188		906		105,085

Schedule of intangible assets amortization expense

	Three Months Ended
	March 30, 2013		March 31, 2012
Amortization expense	$	5,974	16,261