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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) | 12 Months Ended | 24 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 26, 2015 USD ($) Party Property ImportEntry | Dec. 27, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 28, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares | Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) | Dec. 26, 2015 USD ($) Party | Jun. 21, 2011 | Apr. 19, 2010 | Dec. 27, 2008 USD ($)
Site Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental expense | $ 100,000 | $ 1,200,000 | $ 1,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Environmental reserves | 21,700,000 | 22,700,000 |  |  | $ 21,700,000 |  |  |
Expected environmental expenditures for 2016 | 600,000 |  |  |  | 600,000 |  |  |
Expected environmental expenditures for 2017 | 600,000 |  |  |  | 600,000 |  |  |
Expected environmental expenditures for 2018 | 600,000 |  |  |  | 600,000 |  |  |
Expected environmental expenditures for 2019 | 700,000 |  |  |  | 700,000 |  |  |
Expected environmental expenditures for 2020 | 700,000 |  |  |  | 700,000 |  |  |
Expected environmental expenditures after 2020 | 18,500,000 |  |  |  | 18,500,000 |  |  |
Facilities Vehicles and Equipment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lease payments scheduled for 2016 | 7,800,000 |  |  |  | 7,800,000 |  |  |
Lease payments scheduled for 2017 | 5,700,000 |  |  |  | 5,700,000 |  |  |
Lease payments scheduled for 2018 | 4,700,000 |  |  |  | 4,700,000 |  |  |
Lease payments scheduled for 2019 | 2,200,000 |  |  |  | 2,200,000 |  |  |
Lease payments scheduled for 2020 | 1,600,000 |  |  |  | 1,600,000 |  |  |
Lease expense | 9,700,000 | 9,800,000 | 9,100,000 |  |  |  |  |
United States Department of Commerce Antidumping Review [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assignment of antidumping duty rate on U.S. imports by Company subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  | 19.80% | 48.33% |
Payment request for interest and duties | $ 3,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of import entries | ImportEntry | 795 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserve established | $ 1,100,000 |  |  |  | 1,100,000 |  |  |
Anticipated antidumping duty liability with respect to the subject merchandise | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Properties [Member] | Mueller Copper Tube Products, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Site Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mitigation estimates minimum | 700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mitigation estimates maximum | $ 1,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated number of years until mitigation resolution | 9 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-Operating Properties [Member] | Southeast Kansas Sites [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Site Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental reserves | $ 5,600,000 |  |  |  | $ 5,600,000 |  |  | $ 9,500,000
Number of parties involved in settlement negotiations | Party | 2 |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |
Lead Refinery Site [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated cost of site remediation, percentage of per diluted share after tax | $ 0.04 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-Operating Properties [Member] | Shasta Area Mine Sites [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Site Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental spending |  |  |  |  | $ 1,300,000 |  |  |
Period of permit, implementation of Best Management Practices | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mitigation estimates minimum | $ 13,300,000 | $ 10,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Mitigation estimates maximum | $ 20,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated number of years until mitigation resolution | 30 years | 20 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Lead Refinery Site [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated cost of site remediation, percentage of per diluted share after tax | $ 0.03 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-Operating Properties [Member] | Lead Refinery Site [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Site Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental expense | $ 200,000 | $ 100,000 | 100,000 |  |  |  |  |
Number of parties involved in settlement negotiations | Party | 3 |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |
Mitigation estimates minimum | $ 2,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mitigation estimates maximum | $ 5,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated number of years until mitigation resolution | 21 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lead Refinery Site [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
EPA's estimated cost of site remediation | $ 26,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of surrounding properties | Property | 300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance Settlement [Member] | Wynne, Arkansas [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance settlement proceeds |  |  | 127,300,000 |  |  |  |  |
Insurance claim deductible amount |  |  | 500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain from settlement |  |  | $ 106,300,000 |  |  |  |  |
After tax gain from settlement (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  |  | $ 1.17 |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from insurance company received |  |  | $ 62,300,000 | $ 55,000,000 |  |  |  |
Consulting Agreement [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consulting agreement term | 6 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Initial period of the consulting agreement | 4 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Initial period rate of pay based on final base compensation | two-thirds |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Final period of the consulting agreement | 2 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Final period rate of pay of based on final base compensation | one-third |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remaining amount payable under the Consulting agreement | $ 1,300,000 |  |  |  | $ 1,300,000 |  |  |

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