Financial report context:
affected by lower sales volume of cabinets , the divestiture of our arrow and moores businesses , and an unfavorable sales mix of international plumbing products , which , in aggregate , decreased sales by approximately two percent compared to 2016 . net sales for 2016 were positively affected by increased sales volume of plumbing products , paints and other coating products and builders' hardware , which , in aggregate , increased sales by approximately five percent compared to 2015 . net sales for 2016 were also positively affected by favorable sales mix of cabinets and windows , and net selling price increases of north american windows and north american and international plumbing products , which , in aggregate , increased sales approximately one percent . net sales for 2016 were negatively affected by lower sales volume of cabinets and lower net selling prices of paints and other coating products , which , in aggregate , decreased sales by approximately two percent . net sales for 2015 were positively affected by increased sales volume of plumbing products , paints and other coating products , windows and builders' hardware . net sales for 2015 were also positively affected by net selling price increases of plumbing products , cabinets and windows , as well as sales mix of north american cabinets and windows . net sales for 2015 were negatively affected by lower sales volume of cabinets and lower net selling prices of paints and other coating products . our gross profit margins were 34.2 percent , 33.4 percent and 31.5 percent in 2017 , 2016 and 2015 , respectively . the 2017 and 2016 gross profit margins were positively impacted by increased sales volume , a more favorable relationship between net selling prices and commodity costs , and cost savings initiatives . 2016 gross profit margins were negatively impacted by an increase in warranty costs resulting from a change in our estimate of expected future warranty claim costs . selling , general and administrative expenses as a percent of sales were 18.9 percent in 2017 compared with 19.1 percent in 2016 and 18.7 percent in 2015 . selling , general and administrative expenses as a percent of sales in 2017 reflect increased sales and the effect of cost containment measures , partially offset by an increase in strategic growth investments , stock-based compensation , health insurance costs and trade show costs . selling , general and administrative expenses as a percent of sales in 2016 reflect strategic growth investments , erp system implementation costs and higher insurance costs . the following table reconciles reported operating profit to operating profit , as adjusted to exclude certain items , dollars in millions: .

Financial table:
2017: operating profit as reported; 2016: $ 1169; 2015: $ 1053; column_4: $ 914
2017: rationalization charges; 2016: 4; 2015: 22; column_4: 18
2017: gain from sale of property and equipment; 2016: 2014; 2015: 2014; column_4: -5 ( 5 )
2017: operating profit as adjusted; 2016: $ 1173; 2015: $ 1075; column_4: $ 927
2017: operating profit margins as reported; 2016: 15.3% ( 15.3 % ); 2015: 14.3% ( 14.3 % ); column_4: 12.8% ( 12.8 % )
2017: operating profit margins as adjusted; 2016: 15.3% ( 15.3 % ); 2015: 14.6% ( 14.6 % ); column_4: 13.0% ( 13.0 % )

Additional report context:
operating profit margins in 2017 and 2016 were positively affected by increased sales volume , cost savings initiatives , and a more favorable relationship between net selling prices and commodity costs . operating profit margin in 2017 was negatively impacted by an increase in strategic growth investments and certain other expenses , including stock-based compensation , health insurance costs , trade show costs and increased head count . operating profit margin in 2016 was negatively impacted by an increase in warranty costs by a business in our windows and other specialty products segment and an increase in strategic growth investments , as well as erp system implementation costs and higher insurance costs . .......................................................... . .................................................................. . ..................................... . ........................................................ . ............................................ . ............................................. .

Question: what was the percentage change in the gross profit margins from 2016 to 2017
Answer: 2.4%