GUARANTOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Condensed Consolidating Cash Flow Statement (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash Flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 135.2	$ 164.2	$ 80.9
Cash Flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(43.8)	(24.1)	(21.1)
Net cash paid for businesses acquired	(146.4)	(2.6)	(30.9)
Investment in joint venture	0	0	(5.3)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	0.2	3.0	1.3
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and marketable securities	(2.4)	0.2	0.2
Intercompany capital contributions	0	0
Other, net	(0.9)	0	0.1
Net cash used in investing activities	(193.3)	(23.5)	(55.7)
Cash Flows from financing activities:
Increase in borrowings	153.1	34.6	82.8
Payment of borrowings	(156.0)	(84.0)	(140.3)
Net proceeds from the sale of the 8.5% Senior Notes due 2021	0	251.7	500.0
Redemption of the Term Loan Facility	0	(251.7)	0
Net proceeds from borrowings under the Term Loan Facility	0	0	348.2
Redemption of the 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2013	0	0	(753.3)
Fees paid in connection with debt facilities	0	(5.9)	(59.6)
Net proceeds from equity transactions	(2.5)	1.2	(2.7)
Intercompany capital contributions			0
Long-term intercompany advances and loans	0	0	0
Other, net	(0.3)	(0.1)	0.2
Net cash used in financing activities	(5.7)	(54.2)	(24.7)
Net change in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents	(63.8)	86.5	0.5
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	144.7	58.2	57.7
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	80.9	144.7	58.2
Nortek [Member]
Cash Flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(151.7)	(141.4)	(121.6)
Cash Flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(5.1)	(1.8)	(0.1)
Net cash paid for businesses acquired	(145.5)	(2.6)	(5.8)
Investment in joint venture			0
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	0	0	0.7
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and marketable securities	(2.7)	0.1	0
Intercompany capital contributions	(2.2)	0
Other, net	(0.1)	0.1	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(155.6)	(4.2)	(5.2)
Cash Flows from financing activities:
Increase in borrowings	150.0	30.0	50.0
Payment of borrowings	(150.3)	(57.7)	(102.6)
Net proceeds from the sale of the 8.5% Senior Notes due 2021		251.7	500.0
Redemption of the Term Loan Facility		(251.7)
Net proceeds from borrowings under the Term Loan Facility			348.2
Redemption of the 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2013			(753.3)
Fees paid in connection with debt facilities		(5.9)	(59.6)
Net proceeds from equity transactions	(2.5)	1.2	(2.7)
Intercompany capital contributions			(3.0)
Long-term intercompany advances and loans	238.7	255.2	151.5
Other, net	(0.3)	(0.1)	0.1
Net cash used in financing activities	235.6	222.7	128.6
Net change in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents	(71.7)	77.1	1.8
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	94.9	17.8	16.0
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	23.2	94.9	17.8
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	276.2	280.1	185.5
Cash Flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(27.9)	(16.2)	(14.8)
Net cash paid for businesses acquired	0	0	(25.1)
Investment in joint venture			(5.3)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	0.1	2.5	0.5
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and marketable securities	0.3	0.1	0.2
Intercompany capital contributions	2.2	6.5
Other, net	(0.7)	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(26.0)	(7.1)	(44.5)
Cash Flows from financing activities:
Increase in borrowings	0	0	5.3
Payment of borrowings	(2.6)	(2.4)	(6.9)
Net proceeds from the sale of the 8.5% Senior Notes due 2021		0	0
Redemption of the Term Loan Facility		0
Net proceeds from borrowings under the Term Loan Facility			0
Redemption of the 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2013			0
Fees paid in connection with debt facilities		0	0
Net proceeds from equity transactions	0	0	0
Intercompany capital contributions			2.7
Long-term intercompany advances and loans	(240.7)	(266.8)	(154.2)
Other, net	0	0	0.1
Net cash used in financing activities	(243.3)	(269.2)	(153.0)
Net change in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents	6.9	3.8	(12.0)
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	13.1	9.3	21.3
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	20.0	13.1	9.3
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	10.7	25.5	17.0
Cash Flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(10.8)	(6.1)	(6.2)
Net cash paid for businesses acquired	(0.9)	0	0
Investment in joint venture			0
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	0.1	0.5	0.1
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and marketable securities	0	0	0
Intercompany capital contributions	0	(6.5)
Other, net	(0.1)	(0.1)	0.1
Net cash used in investing activities	(11.7)	(12.2)	(6.0)
Cash Flows from financing activities:
Increase in borrowings	3.1	4.6	27.5
Payment of borrowings	(3.1)	(23.9)	(30.8)
Net proceeds from the sale of the 8.5% Senior Notes due 2021		0	0
Redemption of the Term Loan Facility		0
Net proceeds from borrowings under the Term Loan Facility			0
Redemption of the 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2013			0
Fees paid in connection with debt facilities		0	0
Net proceeds from equity transactions	0	0	0
Intercompany capital contributions			0.3
Long-term intercompany advances and loans	2.0	11.6	2.7
Other, net	0	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	2.0	(7.7)	(0.3)
Net change in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents	1.0	5.6	10.7
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	36.7	31.1	20.4
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$ 37.7	$ 36.7	$ 31.1