Industry Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014	Dec. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of net consolidated sales threshold constituting a major customer			10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Long-lived assets		$ 245,910	$ 280,224	$ 245,910	$ 244,457
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			2,100,002	2,364,227	2,158,541
Cost of goods sold			1,809,702	2,043,719	1,862,089
Depreciation and amortization			34,608	33,735	32,394
Selling, general, and administrative expense			130,358	131,740	134,914
Insurance settlement			0	0	(106,332)
Gain on sale of plastic fittings manufacturing assets	$ (15,400)	(4,800)	(15,376)	(6,259)	(39,765)
Impairment charges			0	0	4,304
Severance	$ 3,400	4,200	3,442	7,296	0
Operating income			137,268	153,996	270,937
Interest expense			(7,667)	(5,740)	(3,990)
Other income (expense), net			2,188	(243)	4,451
Income before income taxes			131,789	148,013	271,398
Expenditures for long-lived assets			71,012	41,276	61,642
Segment assets		1,328,096	1,338,801	1,328,096	1,247,767
Corporate and Eliminations [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			(9,809)	(12,388)	(14,549)
Cost of goods sold			(9,669)	(12,386)	(14,488)
Depreciation and amortization			1,836	2,203	2,252
Selling, general, and administrative expense			23,476	22,743	24,964
Insurance settlement					(2,437)
Gain on sale of plastic fittings manufacturing assets			0	0	0
Impairment charges					0
Severance			0	0
Operating income			(25,452)	(24,948)	(24,840)
United States [Member] | Reportable Geographical Components [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		203,522	223,398	203,522	198,837
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			1,519,456	1,752,548	1,651,138
United Kingdom [Member] | Reportable Geographical Components [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		19,007	15,248	19,007	21,220
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			240,823	326,832	229,659
Canada [Member] | Reportable Geographical Components [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		0	20,460	0	0
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			97,967	9,807	13,666
Other [Member] | Reportable Geographical Components [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived assets		23,381	21,118	23,381	24,400
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			241,756	275,040	264,078
Tube and Fittings [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			1,053,761	1,143,164	972,107
Brass Rod and Forgings [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			436,456	556,985	553,896
OEM Components, Tube & Assemblies [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			342,651	345,991	337,772
Valves and Plumbing Specialties [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			198,012	262,504	239,822
Other [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			69,122	55,583	54,944
Plumbing and Refrigeration [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			1,260,273	1,416,701	1,225,306
Cost of goods sold			1,082,493	1,215,282	1,043,059
Depreciation and amortization			19,237	19,613	17,117
Selling, general, and administrative expense			80,405	87,539	85,471
Insurance settlement					(103,895)
Gain on sale of plastic fittings manufacturing assets			(15,376)	(6,259)	(39,765)
Impairment charges					4,173
Severance			3,442	7,296
Operating income			90,072	93,230	219,146
Expenditures for long-lived assets			41,456	30,087	43,543
Segment assets		664,784	709,447	664,784	625,371
OEM [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Net sales			849,538	959,914	947,784
Cost of goods sold			736,878	840,823	833,518
Depreciation and amortization			13,535	11,919	13,025
Selling, general, and administrative expense			26,477	21,458	24,479
Insurance settlement					0
Gain on sale of plastic fittings manufacturing assets			0	0	0
Impairment charges					131
Severance			0	0
Operating income			72,648	85,714	76,631
Expenditures for long-lived assets			29,420	10,788	14,845
Segment assets		313,245	302,875	313,245	305,052
General Corporate [Member]
Summary of segment information [Abstract]
Expenditures for long-lived assets			136	401	3,254
Segment assets		$ 350,067	$ 326,479	$ 350,067	$ 317,344