Business Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	May 04, 2013 segment	Apr. 28, 2012	Feb. 02, 2013
Business Segments
Number of reportable segments	2
Net sales from external customers	$ 1,549,136,000	$ 1,549,319,000
Gross profit	611,351,000	592,406,000
Depreciation and amortization	65,116,000	64,020,000
Interest and debt expense (income), net	16,310,000	17,455,000
Income before income taxes and income on and equity in losses of joint ventures	180,221,000	147,118,000
Income on and equity in losses of joint ventures	409,000	835,000
Total assets	4,261,160,000	4,516,034,000	4,048,744,000
Intersegment revenues	1,700,000	7,900,000
Retail operations
Business Segments
Number of store formats	1
Net sales from external customers	1,530,000,000	1,521,975,000
Gross profit	609,889,000	591,063,000
Depreciation and amortization	65,057,000	63,975,000
Interest and debt expense (income), net	16,330,000	17,490,000
Income before income taxes and income on and equity in losses of joint ventures	179,899,000	146,968,000
Income on and equity in losses of joint ventures	409,000	835,000
Total assets	4,230,148,000	4,474,037,000
Construction
Business Segments
Net sales from external customers	19,136,000	27,344,000
Gross profit	1,462,000	1,343,000
Depreciation and amortization	59,000	45,000
Interest and debt expense (income), net	(20,000)	(35,000)
Income before income taxes and income on and equity in losses of joint ventures	322,000	150,000
Total assets	$ 31,012,000	$ 41,997,000