Restructuring, acquisition and integration-related costs - Restructuring Reserve (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 01, 2017
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2017	$ 1,095
Restructuring costs	18,182	$ 3,025
Cash payments	(13,298)
Non-cash items	(471)
Balance as of March 31, 2018	5,508
Lease impairments
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2017	359
Cash payments	(182)
Non-cash items	0
Balance as of March 31, 2018	413
Asset write-downs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2017	0
Cash payments	0
Non-cash items	(572)
Balance as of March 31, 2018	0
Severance
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2017	584
Cash payments	(3,408)
Non-cash items	8
Balance as of March 31, 2018	4,972
Other restructuring costs and currency translation
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2017	152
Cash payments	(9,708)
Non-cash items	93
Balance as of March 31, 2018	123
Operating segments | Provision - Global Ceramic segment
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	2,765
Operating segments | Provision - Global Ceramic segment | Lease impairments
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	0
Operating segments | Provision - Global Ceramic segment | Asset write-downs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	0
Operating segments | Provision - Global Ceramic segment | Severance
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	2,882
Operating segments | Provision - Global Ceramic segment | Other restructuring costs and currency translation
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	(117)
Operating segments | Provision - Flooring NA segment
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	15,326
Operating segments | Provision - Flooring NA segment | Lease impairments
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	236
Operating segments | Provision - Flooring NA segment | Asset write-downs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	572
Operating segments | Provision - Flooring NA segment | Severance
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	4,815
Operating segments | Provision - Flooring NA segment | Other restructuring costs and currency translation
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	9,703
Operating segments | Provision - Flooring ROW segment
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	91
Operating segments | Provision - Flooring ROW segment | Lease impairments
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	0
Operating segments | Provision - Flooring ROW segment | Asset write-downs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	0
Operating segments | Provision - Flooring ROW segment | Severance
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	91
Operating segments | Provision - Flooring ROW segment | Other restructuring costs and currency translation
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	$ 0