Restructuring (Restructuring Charges By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 27, 2012	Jul. 29, 2011
Liability Beginning Balance	$ 10,446	$ 5,955
Expense	16,379	17,042
Activity	(20,072)	(12,424)
Liability Ending Balance	6,753	10,573
Coatings [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	6,686	3,173
Expense	896	10,704
Activity	(4,632)	(7,057)
Liability Ending Balance	2,950	6,820
Paints [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	3,323	2,782
Expense	11,511	5,994
Activity	(12,352)	(5,023)
Liability Ending Balance	2,482	3,753
All Other [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	437	0
Expense	3,972	344
Activity	(3,088)	(344)
Liability Ending Balance	1,321	0
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	3,884	1,139
Expense	535	5,676
Activity	(2,169)	(2,806)
Liability Ending Balance	2,250	4,009
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | Paints [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	2,915	19
Expense	3,617	3,972
Activity	(6,087)	(670)
Liability Ending Balance	445	3,321
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | All Other [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	437	0
Expense	1,068	233
Activity	(184)	(233)
Liability Ending Balance	1,321	0
Asset Impairments [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	0	0
Expense	167	2,998
Asset impairments	(167)	(2,998)
Liability Ending Balance	0	0
Asset Impairments [Member] | Paints [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	0	0
Expense	5,101	1,750
Asset impairments	(5,101)	(1,750)
Liability Ending Balance	0	0
Asset Impairments [Member] | All Other [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	0
Expense	2,171
Asset impairments	(2,171)
Liability Ending Balance	0
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	2,802	2,034
Expense	194	2,030
Activity	(2,296)	(1,253)
Liability Ending Balance	700	2,811
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | Paints [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	408	2,763
Expense	2,793	272
Activity	(1,164)	(2,603)
Liability Ending Balance	2,037	432
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | All Other [Member]
Liability Beginning Balance	0	0
Expense	733	111
Activity	(733)	(111)
Liability Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 0