Our Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties operating segments both manufacture and sell ceiling systems (primarily mineral fiber, fiberglass wool and metal) throughout the Americas. We disaggregate revenue based on our product based segments and major customer grouping as these categories represent the most appropriate depiction of how the nature, amount, and timing of revenues and cash flows are affected by economic factors. Net sales by major customer group are as follows:

Distributors – represents net sales to building materials distributors, who re-sell our products to contractors, subcontractors’ alliances, large architect and design firms, and major facility owners. Geographically, this category includes sales throughout the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.

Home centers – represents net sales to home centers such as Lowe’s Companies, Inc. and The Home Depot, Inc.

Direct customers – represents net sales sold directly to contractors, subcontractors’ alliances, large architect and design firms, and major facility owners. Only sales to U.S. customers are reported within this customer group.

Retailers and other – represents net sales to independent retailers and certain national account customers, including wholesalers who re-sell our products to dealers who service builders, contractors and consumers. Geographically, this category includes sales throughout the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.

The following tables provide net sales by major customer group within the Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:


Mineral Fiber	2018		2017		2016
Distributors	$	601.4	$	563.3	$	549.0
Home centers		84.0		82.2		78.7
Direct customers		60.3		62.1		61.9
Retailers and other		55.9		48.8		47.0
Total	$	801.6	$	756.4	$	736.6

Architectural Specialties	2018		2017		2016
Distributors	$	129.8	$	111.5	$	73.4
Direct customers		36.7		22.3		23.9
Retailers and other		7.2		3.4		3.4
Total	$	173.7	$	137.2	$	100.7