Acquistions and Divestitures (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] CHF	Jun. 01, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Intellectual property [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Intellectual property [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Customer relationships [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Customer relationships [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Other intangibles [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Other intangibles [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2013 Engent Inc [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Engent Inc [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2013 Engent Inc [Member] Customer relationships [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Engent Inc [Member] Customer relationships [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2013 Engent Inc [Member] Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Engent Inc [Member] Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2013 Engent Inc [Member] Non-competition agreements [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Engent Inc [Member] Non-competition agreements [Member] USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total acquisition cost						$ 12,000		$ 403,100	$ 404,725	$ 403,100	368,514									$ 7,881	$ 7,881
Total purchase price net of cash acquired				(1,625)	404,725
Maximum additional consideration																					2,000
Contingent consideration																				1,200	1,200
Purchase price allocation [Abstract]
Current assets								172,345	172,345											603	603
Property, plant and equipment								92,443	92,443											1,471	1,471
Goodwill								137,001	136,658											5,681	5,434
Other intangibles, net								123,459	123,459			42,190	42,190	58,910	58,910	21,880	21,880	479	479	3,000	3,000	2,300	2,300	300	300	400	400
Other assets acquired								4,605	4,605											20	325
Current liabilities								(84,435)	(84,251)											(90)	(84)
Other liabilities								(42,318)	(40,534)											(1,604)	(1,668)
Contingent consideration liabilities																				1,200	1,200
Total purchase price						12,000		403,100	404,725	403,100	368,514									7,881	7,881
Current assets purchase price adjustment								0												0
Property, plant and equipment purchase price adjustment								0												0
Goodwill purchase price adjustment								343												247
Other intangibles purchase price adjustment								0												0
Other assets purchase price adjustment								0												(305)
Current liabilities purchase price adjustment								(184)												(6)
Other liabilities purchase price adjustment								(1,784)												64
Contingent consideration liabilities purchase price adjustment																				0
Total purchase price adjustment								(1,625)												0
Acquisition Related Financing [Abstract]
Proceeds from long-term debt				95,000	490,000
Net revenue of acquired business	519,016		526,995	998,858	872,449
Segment operating income	52,810		43,595	88,546	71,252
Acquisition and integration special charges	10,843		32,127	16,176	38,609
Discontinued Operations Information [Line Items]
Cash proceeds		118,566
Discontinued operations income statement items [Abstract]
Net revenue			26,321		56,129
Income from operations			3,819		6,662
Income taxes			(6,872)		(7,992)
Net Income (loss) from discontinued operations			(3,053)		(1,330)
Discontinued operations balance sheet items
Other current assets	1,865			1,865			0
Current assets of discontinued operations	1,865			1,865			0
Other assets	0			0			1,865
Long-term assets of discontinued operations	0			0			1,865
Trade payables	0			0			74
Other accrued expenses	5,000			5,000			0
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	5,000			5,000			74
Other liabilities	0			0			5,000
Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations	$ 0			$ 0			$ 5,000