Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013	Dec. 01, 2012	Dec. 03, 2011
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at	$ 254,345	$ 114,895
Currency effect	4,542	(2,642)
Balance at	263,103	254,345	114,895
Amortizable intangible assets [Line Items]
Original cost	321,186	312,620
Accumulated amortization	(102,378)	(79,821)
Net identifiable intangibles	218,808	232,799
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life	16 years	16 years
Amortization expense	22,508	18,703	10,162
Future estimated aggregate amortization expense [Abstract]
2014	22,095
2015	21,575
2016	21,385
2017	21,009
2018	20,503
Thereafter	112,241
Non-amortizable intangible assets [Abstract]
Trademarks/trade names	593	556
Purchased Technology And Patents [Member]
Amortizable intangible assets [Line Items]
Original cost	45,710	43,304
Accumulated amortization	(9,706)	(5,924)
Net identifiable intangibles	36,004	37,380
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life	11 years	11 years
Customer relationships [Member]
Amortizable intangible assets [Line Items]
Original cost	231,696	226,478
Accumulated amortization	(77,192)	(62,727)
Net identifiable intangibles	154,504	163,751
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life	17 years	17 years
Other intangibles [Member]
Amortizable intangible assets [Line Items]
Original cost	43,780	42,838
Accumulated amortization	(15,480)	(11,170)
Net identifiable intangibles	28,300	31,668
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life	13 years	13 years
North America Adhesives [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at	61,302	62,031
Construction Products [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at	13,337	13,337
Percentage that the fair value of goodwill exceeds the carrying value	70.00%
EIMEA [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at	151,675	144,824
Latin America Adhesives [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at	10,815	7,041
Percentage that the fair value of goodwill exceeds the carrying value	83.00%
Asia Pacific [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at	25,974	27,112
Percentage that the fair value of goodwill exceeds the carrying value	38.00%
Engent [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquitsion	247	5,434
Forbo Industrial Adhesives [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquitsion	343	136,658
Plexbond Acquisition [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquitsion	$ 3,626	$ 0