Industry Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 514,165	$ 585,809	$ 1,685,932	$ 1,926,413
Cost of goods sold	449,718	523,984	1,465,744	1,687,735
Depreciation and amortization	7,870	8,716	23,318	27,581
Selling, general, and administrative expense	32,120	34,245	97,209	102,944
Litigation settlement				(10,500)
Insurance settlement	0	0	(1,500)	0
Operating income	24,457	18,864	101,161	118,653
Interest expense	(353)	(2,822)	(5,711)	(9,004)
Other income, net	219	102	963	1,425
Income before income taxes	24,323	16,144	96,413	111,074
Plumbing and Refrigeration Segment [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales	297,913	325,776	944,955	1,053,434
Cost of goods sold	257,978	285,242	808,631	904,470
Depreciation and amortization	4,044	4,859	12,340	16,042
Selling, general, and administrative expense	18,298	21,791	57,028	64,565
Litigation settlement				0
Insurance settlement			(1,500)
Operating income	17,593	13,884	68,456	68,357
OEM Segment [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales	221,468	266,560	760,995	899,982
Cost of goods sold	196,789	245,223	676,635	809,959
Depreciation and amortization	3,437	3,519	9,908	10,590
Selling, general, and administrative expense	6,821	5,646	20,249	18,799
Litigation settlement				0
Insurance settlement			0
Operating income	14,421	12,172	54,203	60,634
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales	(5,216)	(6,527)	(20,018)	(27,003)
Cost of goods sold	(5,049)	(6,481)	(19,522)	(26,694)
Depreciation and amortization	389	338	1,070	949
Selling, general, and administrative expense	7,001	6,808	19,932	19,580
Litigation settlement				(10,500)
Insurance settlement			0
Operating income	$ (7,557)	$ (7,192)	$ (21,498)	$ (10,338)