GUARANTOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Current Assets:
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents	$ 80.9		$ 144.7		$ 58.2		$ 57.7
Restricted cash	2.9		0.2
Accounts receivable, less allowances	276.4		257.4
Intercompany receivables	0		0
Inventories, net	270.5		258.4
Prepaid expenses	20.2		14.4
Other current assets	19.4		20.0
Deferred tax assets	29.7		29.3
Total current assets	700.0		724.4
Property and Equipment, at Cost:
Total property and equipment, net	232.4		199.5
Other Long-term Assets:
Investment in subsidiaries and long-term receivable from (to) subsidiaries	0		0
Goodwill	373.5	[1]	307.6	[1]	307.6	[1]
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization	648.9		614.9
Deferred tax asset	0		0
Other assets	36.1		41.7
Total other long-term assets	1,058.5		964.2
Total Assets	1,990.9		1,888.1
Current Liabilities:
Short-term bank obligations	0.7		0.7
Current maturities of long-term debt	2.8		2.4
Accounts payable	214.7		174.4
Accrued expenses and taxes	231.5		198.9
Current deferred taxes	0		0
Intercompany payables	0		0
Total current liabilities	449.7		376.4
Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	159.1		132.7
Other long-term liabilities	188.9		186.9
Long-term intercompany payables	0		0
Total other long-term liabilities	348.0		319.6
Notes, Mortgage Notes and Obligations Payable, Less Current Maturities	1,093.3		1,097.9
Stockholders' investment (deficit)	99.9		94.2		80.4		158.8
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Investment	1,990.9		1,888.1
Nortek [Member]
Current Assets:
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents	23.2		94.9		17.8		16.0
Restricted cash	2.7		0
Accounts receivable, less allowances	0.1		0
Intercompany receivables	1.4		1.0
Inventories, net	0		0
Prepaid expenses	3.2		1.2
Other current assets	0.1		0
Deferred tax assets	4.8		18.3
Total current assets	35.5		115.4
Property and Equipment, at Cost:
Total property and equipment, net	7.0		3.0
Other Long-term Assets:
Investment in subsidiaries and long-term receivable from (to) subsidiaries	1,180.7		1,107.8
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization	0		0
Deferred tax asset	10.2		10.9
Other assets	20.3		25.4
Total other long-term assets	1,211.2		1,144.1
Total Assets	1,253.7		1,262.5
Current Liabilities:
Short-term bank obligations	0		0
Current maturities of long-term debt	0.3		0.3
Accounts payable	2.3		4.1
Accrued expenses and taxes	36.2		31.1
Current deferred taxes	0		0
Intercompany payables	0		0
Total current liabilities	38.8		35.5
Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	31.7		47.7
Long-term intercompany payables	0		0
Total other long-term liabilities	31.7		47.7
Notes, Mortgage Notes and Obligations Payable, Less Current Maturities	1,083.3		1,085.1
Stockholders' investment (deficit)	99.9		94.2
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Investment	1,253.7		1,262.5
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current Assets:
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents	20.0		13.1		9.3		21.3
Restricted cash	0.1		0
Accounts receivable, less allowances	219.2		191.7
Intercompany receivables	0		0
Inventories, net	204.5		192.4
Prepaid expenses	11.0		8.7
Other current assets	6.5		10.7
Deferred tax assets	26.3		12.6
Total current assets	487.6		429.2
Property and Equipment, at Cost:
Total property and equipment, net	157.4		128.7
Other Long-term Assets:
Investment in subsidiaries and long-term receivable from (to) subsidiaries	418.6		321.2
Goodwill	357.8		292.7
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization	627.1		591.6
Deferred tax asset	0		0
Other assets	14.6		15.7
Total other long-term assets	1,418.1		1,221.2
Total Assets	2,063.1		1,779.1
Current Liabilities:
Short-term bank obligations	0		0
Current maturities of long-term debt	2.5		2.1
Accounts payable	103.7		76.7
Accrued expenses and taxes	152.4		119.4
Current deferred taxes	0		0
Intercompany payables	61.9		43.3
Total current liabilities	320.5		241.5
Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	163.8		137.3
Other long-term liabilities	135.6		110.3
Long-term intercompany payables	0		0
Total other long-term liabilities	299.4		247.6
Notes, Mortgage Notes and Obligations Payable, Less Current Maturities	10.0		12.8
Stockholders' investment (deficit)	1,433.2		1,277.2
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Investment	2,063.1		1,779.1
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current Assets:
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents	37.7		36.7		31.1		20.4
Restricted cash	0.1		0.2
Accounts receivable, less allowances	57.1		65.7
Intercompany receivables	60.5		42.3
Inventories, net	72.0		71.6
Prepaid expenses	6.0		4.5
Other current assets	12.8		10.4
Deferred tax assets	0		0
Total current assets	246.2		231.4
Property and Equipment, at Cost:
Total property and equipment, net	68.0		67.8
Other Long-term Assets:
Investment in subsidiaries and long-term receivable from (to) subsidiaries	0		0
Goodwill	15.7		14.9
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization	32.2		34.5
Deferred tax asset	0		0
Other assets	1.2		0.6
Total other long-term assets	49.1		50.0
Total Assets	363.3		349.2
Current Liabilities:
Short-term bank obligations	0.7		0.7
Current maturities of long-term debt	0		0
Accounts payable	108.7		93.6
Accrued expenses and taxes	42.9		48.8
Current deferred taxes	1.4		1.6
Intercompany payables	0		0
Total current liabilities	153.7		144.7
Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	7.7		8.7
Other long-term liabilities	21.6		28.9
Long-term intercompany payables	49.4		44.0
Total other long-term liabilities	78.7		81.6
Notes, Mortgage Notes and Obligations Payable, Less Current Maturities	0		0
Stockholders' investment (deficit)	130.9		122.9
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Investment	363.3		349.2
Eliminations [Member]
Current Assets:
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Restricted cash	0		0
Accounts receivable, less allowances	0		0
Intercompany receivables	(61.9)		(43.3)
Inventories, net	(6.0)		(5.6)
Prepaid expenses	0		0
Other current assets	0		(1.1)
Deferred tax assets	(1.4)		(1.6)
Total current assets	(69.3)		(51.6)
Property and Equipment, at Cost:
Total property and equipment, net	0		0
Other Long-term Assets:
Investment in subsidiaries and long-term receivable from (to) subsidiaries	(1,599.3)		(1,429.0)
Goodwill	0		0
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization	(10.4)		(11.2)
Deferred tax asset	(10.2)		(10.9)
Other assets	0		0
Total other long-term assets	(1,619.9)		(1,451.1)
Total Assets	(1,689.2)		(1,502.7)
Current Liabilities:
Short-term bank obligations	0		0
Current maturities of long-term debt	0		0
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued expenses and taxes	0		(0.4)
Current deferred taxes	(1.4)		(1.6)
Intercompany payables	(61.9)		(43.3)
Total current liabilities	(63.3)		(45.3)
Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	(12.4)		(13.3)
Other long-term liabilities	0		0
Long-term intercompany payables	(49.4)		(44.0)
Total other long-term liabilities	(61.8)		(57.3)
Notes, Mortgage Notes and Obligations Payable, Less Current Maturities	0		0
Stockholders' investment (deficit)	(1,564.1)		(1,400.1)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Investment	$ (1,689.2)		$ (1,502.7)

[1] The Residential Heating and Cooling ("RHC") and Custom & Engineered Solutions ("CES") reporting units did not have goodwill in any period presented.