Restructuring (Restructuring And Impairment Charges By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2013	Apr. 27, 2012
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	$ 9,009	$ 10,446
Expense	9,320	9,515
Payments and Other Activity	(4,644)	(11,179)
Liability Ending Balance	13,685	8,782
Coatings [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	2,624	6,686
Expense	2,725	1,035
Payments and Other Activity	(358)	(4,297)
Liability Ending Balance	4,991	3,424
Paints [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	6,088	3,323
Expense	6,187	7,798
Payments and Other Activity	(4,034)	(5,920)
Liability Ending Balance	8,241	5,201
Other And Administrative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	297	437
Expense	408	682
Payments and Other Activity	(252)	(962)
Liability Ending Balance	453	157
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	2,234	3,884
Expense	2,725	532
Payments and Other Activity	(169)	(2,125)
Liability Ending Balance	4,790	2,291
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | Paints [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	2,104	2,915
Expense	5,806	3,066
Payments and Other Activity	(2,797)	(2,318)
Liability Ending Balance	5,113	3,663
Severance And Employee Benefits [Member] | Other And Administrative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	297	437
Expense	300	682
Payments and Other Activity	(144)	(962)
Liability Ending Balance	453	157
Asset Impairments [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance		0
Expense		312
Payments and Other Activity		(312)
Liability Ending Balance		0
Asset Impairments [Member] | Paints [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	0	0
Expense	381	2,911
Payments and Other Activity	(381)	(2,911)
Liability Ending Balance	0	0
Asset Impairments [Member] | Other And Administrative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	0
Expense	61
Payments and Other Activity	(61)
Liability Ending Balance	0
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | Coatings [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	390	2,802
Expense	0	191
Payments and Other Activity	(189)	(1,860)
Liability Ending Balance	201	1,133
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | Paints [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	3,984	408
Expense	0	1,821
Payments and Other Activity	(856)	(691)
Liability Ending Balance	3,128	1,538
Exit Costs (Consulting/Site Clean-Up) [Member] | Other And Administrative [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Liability Beginning Balance	0
Expense	47
Payments and Other Activity	(47)
Liability Ending Balance	$ 0