Restructuring, acquisition and integration-related costs (Restructuring Reserve) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$ 4,878
Provision	18,716	$ 14,078
Cash payments	(14,970)
Non-cash items	(14,348)
Balance as of October 3, 2015	$ 2,926
Period in which lease impairments, severance and other restructuring costs are expected to be paid	4 years
Lease Impairments [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$ 1,741
Cash payments	(3,146)
Non-cash items	0
Balance as of October 3, 2015	472
Asset Write-Down [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2014	0
Cash payments	0
Non-cash items	(15,363)
Balance as of October 3, 2015	0
Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2014	3,037
Cash payments	(3,614)
Non-cash items	0
Balance as of October 3, 2015	2,334
Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2014	100
Cash payments	(8,210)
Non-cash items	1,015
Balance as of October 3, 2015	120
Operating Segments [Member] | Global Ceramic Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	231
Operating Segments [Member] | Global Ceramic Segment [Member] | Lease Impairments [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Global Ceramic Segment [Member] | Asset Write-Down [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	1,245
Operating Segments [Member] | Global Ceramic Segment [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Global Ceramic Segment [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	(1,014)
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring NA Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	14,397
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring NA Segment [Member] | Lease Impairments [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	1,877
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring NA Segment [Member] | Asset Write-Down [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	5,451
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring NA Segment [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	1,700
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring NA Segment [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	5,369
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring ROW Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	12,738
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring ROW Segment [Member] | Lease Impairments [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring ROW Segment [Member] | Asset Write-Down [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	8,667
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring ROW Segment [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	1,211
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring ROW Segment [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Provision	$ 2,860