COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2017
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Other Employee-related Liabilities	$ 9,500	$ 10,000
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Recorded Liability	6,000	6,300
Future minimum rental obligations for non-cancellable lease	140,000
Lease Obligations [Abstract]
2014	31,590
2015	27,455
2016	22,123
2017	17,755
2018	15,694
Thereafter	25,431
Sublease Income [Abstract]
2014	437
2015	445
2016	454
2017	463
2018	473
Thereafter	974
Total rental expenses	39,300	37,300	$ 37,600
Indemnification [Abstract]
Receivable related to indemnification	1,000	1,400
Current liabilities	400	500
Long-term liabilities	600	900
Product claim liabilities	138	138
Multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability	449	808
Other	439	500
Proceeds from Insurance Settlement, Operating Activities	8,725	0	$ 0
Liabilities for contingency	$ 1,026	$ 1,446
Multiemployer plans discount rate (in hundredths)	3.50%	3.97%	4.18%
Warranty claims [Abstract]
Warranty liabilities, Current	$ 19,652	$ 19,718
Warranty liabilities , Noncurrent	57,665	57,575
Change in the Company's warranty liabilities [Roll Forward]
Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual, Increase (Decrease) for Preexisting Warranties	0	0	$ (7,761)
Environmental [Abstract]
Environmental remediation estimate			1,800
Environmental liability within current liabilities	300	300
Environmental liability within other long-term liabilities	1,100
Warranty claims [Member]
Change in the Company's warranty liabilities [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	77,279	76,562	84,423
Warranty expense during period	22,309	22,266	21,264
Settlements made during period	(22,271)	(21,549)	(21,464)
Balance, end of period	77,317	77,279	76,562
warranty accruals acquired in acquisition [Member]
Change in the Company's warranty liabilities [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	0	100
Balance, end of period	0	$ 0	$ 100
Multiemployer Pension Plan [Member]
Indemnification [Abstract]
Quarterly contribution to pension fund through 2018	100
Ply Gem Canada [Member]
Environmental [Abstract]
Environmental liability within current liabilities	100
class action settlement [Member]
Environmental [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	1,400
Other Current Liabilities [Member] \| class action settlement [Member]
Environmental [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	700
Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member] \| class action settlement [Member]
Environmental [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	700
Ply Gem Industries [Member]
Indemnification [Abstract]
Estimated Litigation Liability	26,000
Ply Gem Industries [Member] \| Insurance Claims [Member]
Indemnification [Abstract]
Estimated Litigation Liability	16,700			$ 25,400
Liabilities for contingency	16,700
Ply Gem Industries [Member] \| 525190 Other Insurance Funds [Member]
Indemnification [Abstract]
Estimated Litigation Liability	600
Windows and Doors [Member]
Indemnification [Abstract]
Liabilities for contingency	1,000
Simonton [Member]
Indemnification [Abstract]
Liabilities for contingency	$ 900

PLY GEM HOLDINGS INC 10-K