Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Schedule of goodwill) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	$ 0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	2,931,777,000	$ 3,063,517,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(1,327,425,000)	(1,327,425,000)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,604,352,000	1,736,092,000
Goodwill recognized during the year	775,154,000	4,010,000
Currency translation during the year	(86,141,000)	(135,750,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	3,620,790,000	2,931,777,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(1,327,425,000)	(1,327,425,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	2,293,365,000	1,604,352,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Global Ceramic [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,395,132,000	1,459,812,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(531,930,000)	(531,930,000)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	863,202,000	927,882,000
Goodwill recognized during the year	99,848,000	(2,497,000)
Currency translation during the year	(22,223,000)	(62,183,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,472,757,000	1,395,132,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(531,930,000)	(531,930,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	940,827,000	863,202,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring NA [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	538,515,000	538,515,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(343,054,000)	(343,054,000)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	195,461,000	195,461,000
Goodwill recognized during the year	329,401,000	0
Currency translation during the year	0	0
Goodwill, ending balance	867,916,000	538,515,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(343,054,000)	(343,054,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	524,862,000	195,461,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring ROW [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	998,130,000	1,065,190,000
Accumulated impairments losses, beginning balance	(452,441,000)	(452,441,000)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	545,689,000	612,749,000
Goodwill recognized during the year	345,905,000	6,507,000
Currency translation during the year	(63,918,000)	(73,567,000)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,280,117,000	998,130,000
Accumulated impairments losses, ending balance	(452,441,000)	(452,441,000)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 827,676,000	$ 545,689,000