Restructuring (Restructuring And Impairment Charges By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010	Oct. 30, 2009
Liability Beginning Balance	$ 5,955	$ 6,144	$ 11,387
Net Expense	34,439	12,383	28,557
Activity	(29,948)	(12,572)	(33,800)
Liability Ending Balance	10,446	5,955	6,144
Coatings [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	3,173	2,706	8,265
Net Expense	20,940	10,563	18,237
Activity	(17,427)	(10,096)	(23,796)
Liability Ending Balance	6,686	3,173	2,706
Paints [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	2,782	3,383	2,252
Net Expense	13,013	1,595	4,429
Activity	(12,472)	(2,196)	(3,298)
Liability Ending Balance	3,323	2,782	3,383
All Other [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance		55	870
Net Expense	486	225	5,891
Activity	(49)	(280)	(6,706)
Liability Ending Balance	437		55
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	1,139	1,694	7,842
Net Expense	10,044	2,353	12,339
Activity	(7,299)	(2,908)	(18,487)
Liability Ending Balance	3,884	1,139	1,694
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | Paints [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	19	827
Net Expense	7,945	313	1,374
Activity	(5,049)	(1,121)	(547)
Liability Ending Balance	2,915	19	827
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | All Other [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance		55	806
Net Expense	486		615
Activity	(49)	(55)	(1,366)
Liability Ending Balance	437		55
Asset Impairments [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Net Expense	5,644	5,596	3,417
Activity	(5,644)	(5,596)	(3,417)
Asset Impairments [Member] | Paints [Member]
Net Expense	4,169	(237)	1,935
Activity	(4,169)	237	(1,935)
Asset Impairments [Member] | All Other [Member]
Net Expense		114	3,647
Activity		(114)	(3,647)
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	2,034	1,012	423
Net Expense	5,252	1,822	2,010
Activity	(4,484)	(800)	(1,421)
Liability Ending Balance	2,802	2,034	1,012
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | Paints [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	2,763	2,556	2,252
Net Expense	899	1,519	1,120
Activity	(3,254)	(1,312)	(816)
Liability Ending Balance	408	2,763	2,556
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | All Other [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance			64
Net Expense		111	1,568
Activity		(111)	(1,632)
Contract Term Costs (Leases) [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Net Expense		792	471
Activity		(792)	(471)
Contract Term Costs (Leases) [Member] | All Other [Member]
Net Expense			61
Activity			$ (61)