Exit or Disposal Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Facilities Shutdown Prior to 2012 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Consumer Group [Member] facility	Mar. 31, 2014 Paint Stores Group [Member] store	Mar. 31, 2014 Latin America Coatings Group [Member] store	Mar. 31, 2014 Other qualified exit costs [Member] Paint Stores Group [Member] Facilities Shut Down in 2013 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Other qualified exit costs [Member] Paint Stores Group [Member] Stores Shut Down in 2012 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Other qualified exit costs [Member] Global Finishes Group [Member] Facilities Shutdown in 2012 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other qualified exit costs [Member] Global Finishes Group [Member] Facilities Shutdown in 2012 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Severance and related costs [Member] Consumer Group [Member] Facilities Shutdown in 2014 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Severance and related costs [Member] Consumer Group [Member] Facilities Shut Down in 2013 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Severance and related costs [Member] Paint Stores Group [Member] Facilities Shut Down in 2013 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Severance and related costs [Member] Global Finishes Group [Member] Stores Shut Down in 2013 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Severance and related costs [Member] Global Finishes Group [Member] Facilities Shutdown in 2012 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Severance and related costs [Member] Latin America Coatings Group [Member] Facilities Shut Down in 2013 [Member]
Exit or Disposal Activities (Textual) [Abstract]
Branches closed					2	2
Facilities closed				3
Summary of activity and remaining liabilities associated with qualified exit costs
Beginning Balance, at December 31, 2013	$ 5,820		$ 1,365					$ 244	$ 83	$ 83		$ 598	$ 977	$ 253	$ 2,177	$ 123
Provisions in Cost of goods sold or SG&A	2,897						1,512				499	48	838
Actual expenditures charged to accrual	(529)	(4,186)	(108)					(13)				(57)	(6)	(50)	(278)	(17)
Adjustments to prior provisions in Other general expense - net	0	128
Ending Balance at March 31, 2014	$ 8,188		$ 1,257				$ 1,512	$ 231	$ 83	$ 83	$ 499	$ 589	$ 1,809	$ 203	$ 1,899	$ 106