Segment reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 03, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2016 USD ($) segment	Oct. 03, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | segment			3
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,294,139	$ 2,150,656	$ 6,776,521	$ 6,073,566
Operating income (loss)	378,307	288,734	974,671	588,324
Assets	10,420,593		10,420,593		$ 9,934,400
Operating Segments [Member] | Global Ceramic Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	822,040	791,538	2,425,560	2,301,168
Operating income (loss)	135,985	120,055	376,368	326,571
Assets	4,118,510		4,118,510		3,846,133
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring NA Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,008,553	955,099	2,895,610	2,722,347
Operating income (loss)	170,507	125,910	364,804	145,861
Assets	3,354,286		3,354,286		3,164,525
Operating Segments [Member] | Flooring ROW Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	463,546	404,026	1,455,351	1,050,390
Operating income (loss)	81,757	55,471	262,356	153,164
Assets	2,851,227		2,851,227		2,805,246
Intersegment Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	(7)	0	(339)
Corporate And Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(9,942)	$ (12,702)	(28,857)	$ (37,272)
Assets	$ 96,570		$ 96,570		$ 118,496