Restructuring (Restructuring And Impairment Charges By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	$ 10,446	$ 5,955	$ 6,144
Expense	25,845	34,439	12,383
Activity	(27,282)	(29,948)	(12,572)
Liability Ending Balance	9,009	10,446	5,955
Coatings [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	6,686	3,173	2,706
Expense	1,418	20,940	10,563
Activity	(5,480)	(17,427)	(10,096)
Liability Ending Balance	2,624	6,686	3,173
Paints [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	3,323	2,782	3,383
Expense	18,392	13,013	1,595
Activity	(15,627)	(12,472)	(2,196)
Liability Ending Balance	6,088	3,323	2,782
All Other [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	437	0	55
Expense	6,035	486	225
Activity	(6,175)	(49)	(280)
Liability Ending Balance	297	437	0
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	3,884	1,139	1,694
Expense	545	10,044	2,353
Activity	(2,195)	(7,299)	(2,908)
Liability Ending Balance	2,234	3,884	1,139
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | Paints [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	2,915	19	827
Expense	5,544	7,945	313
Activity	(6,355)	(5,049)	(1,121)
Liability Ending Balance	2,104	2,915	19
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | All Other [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	437	0	55
Expense	1,551	486	0
Activity	(1,691)	(49)	(55)
Liability Ending Balance	297	437	0
Asset Impairments [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	0	0	0
Expense	658	5,644	5,596
Activity	(658)	(5,644)	(5,596)
Liability Ending Balance	0	0	0
Asset Impairments [Member] | Paints [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	0	0	0
Expense	7,447	4,169	(237)
Activity	(7,447)	(4,169)	237
Liability Ending Balance	0	0	0
Asset Impairments [Member] | All Other [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	0		0
Expense	3,616		114
Activity	(3,616)		(114)
Liability Ending Balance	0		0
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	2,802	2,034	1,012
Expense	215	5,252	1,822
Activity	(2,627)	(4,484)	(800)
Liability Ending Balance	390	2,802	2,034
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | Paints [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	408	2,763	2,556
Expense	5,401	899	1,519
Activity	(1,825)	(3,254)	(1,312)
Liability Ending Balance	3,984	408	2,763
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | All Other [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	0		0
Expense	868		111
Activity	(868)		(111)
Liability Ending Balance	0		0
Contract Term Costs (Leases) [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance			0
Expense			792
Activity			(792)
Liability Ending Balance			$ 0