Element represents the estimated the repair and remodeling growth rate.

No definition available.

Name:	pgem_EstimatedRepairAndRemodelingGrowthRate
Namespace Prefix:	pgem_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Element represents the estimated single family housing starts increasing levels during a particular period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pgem_EstimatedSingleFamilyHousingLevels
Namespace Prefix:	pgem_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Element represents the percentage of reporting units which exceeded their current year carrying value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pgem_PercentageReportingUnitsWhichExceededCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	pgem_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph e

-Clause 1

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph l

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 34

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 43

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 72

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, of the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable), in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a,h)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The accumulated impairment losses related to goodwill as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchase accounting adjustments needed to revise the carrying amount of goodwill to fair value.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of adjustments to goodwill resulting from the subsequent recognition of deferred tax assets during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillSubsequentRecognitionOfDeferredTaxAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) to the recorded value of goodwill for foreign currency translation adjustments.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of operating segments. An operating segment is a component of an enterprise: (a) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same enterprise), (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and (c) for which discrete financial information is available. An operating segment may engage in business activities for which it has yet to earn revenues, for example, start-up operations may be operating segments before earning revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

GOODWILL (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 29, 2012 Windows and Doors [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Windows and Doors [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Windows and Doors [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Windows and Doors [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Siding, Fencing and Stone [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Siding, Fencing and Stone [Member]	Sep. 29, 2012 Siding, Fencing and Stone [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Siding, Fencing and Stone [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Number of reporting units	2	2		2
Estimated single family housing levels from 2011 to 2018			1,050,000	434,000
Estimated repair and remodeling growth rate (in hundredths)			3.00%	3.00%
Percentage reporting units which exceeded carrying value							19.00%			90.00%
Goodwill	$ 392,717	$ 392,717		$ 391,467	$ 393,433	$ 71,733	$ 71,360	$ 73,326	$ 72,731	$ 320,107	$ 320,107	$ 320,984	$ 320,107
Rollforward of goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill, gross							399,133	401,099	400,504	442,334	442,334		442,334
Accumulated impairment losses							(327,773)	(327,773)	(327,773)	(122,227)	(122,227)		(122,227)
Goodwill, net	392,717	392,717		391,467	393,433	71,733	71,360	73,326	72,731	320,107	320,107	320,984	320,107
Currency translation adjustments						373	(244)	595		0	0
Purchase accounting adjustment							(307)			0
Tax benefit of excess tax goodwill							$ (1,415)			$ 0