Segment Information - Company by Segment and Geographic Area (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,150	$ 1,913	$ 6,175	$ 5,664
Operating Profit (Loss)	212	108	532	271
Charge for litigation settlements, net		(1)		(74)
Other income (expense), net	(58)	(57)	(168)	(172)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	154	51	364	99
North America [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,756	1,553	5,031	4,571
International, Principally Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	394	360	1,144	1,093
Cabinets and Related Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	262	228	763	709
Plumbing Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	820	736	2,384	2,216
Installation and Other Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	370	312	1,039	886
Decorative Architectural Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	522	481	1,519	1,432
Other Specialty Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	176	156	470	421
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	243	144	636	436
Operating Segments [Member] \| Cabinets and Related Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	(2)	(28)	(4)	(49)
Operating Segments [Member] \| Plumbing Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	118	75	306	242
Operating Segments [Member] \| Installation and Other Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	18	(2)	22	(25)
Charge for litigation settlements, net		(1)		(76)
Operating Segments [Member] \| Decorative Architectural Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	93	96	286	264
Operating Segments [Member] \| Other Specialty Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	16	3	26	4
Geographic Area [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	243	144	636	436
Geographic Area [Member] \| North America [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	193	112	518	325
Geographic Area [Member] \| International, Principally Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	50	32	118	111
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Profit (Loss)	(31)	(35)	(104)	(96)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain from sale of fixed assets				5
Charge for litigation settlements, net		$ (1)		$ (74)

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, including oil and gas property and timber property.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

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The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Article 5

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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