The origins of Berger Bros may be traced to the late 1800s. William H. Berger was born in Milton, Pennsylvania, in 1841. He learned carpentry before enlisting as a private in the Union Army during the Civil War in 1862. After the war, Berger moved to Philadelphia and began his life's work as a builder and contractor. In 1874 he founded William Berger & Company, manufacturers of tinners' and roofers' supplies. He was soon joined in the business by his brother, and the company name was changed to Berger Bros Company.

William Berger's brother died in 1898, after which the business was formally incorporated with William H. Berger as president. The company grew steadily, becoming one of the largest concerns of its kind in the United States. Berger also introduced several new products to the marketplace, including Berger pipe and Berger roof grippers, used in the sheet metal industry. William Berger served as president of the company until his death in 1934.

Berger Bros continued to develop and manufacture roofing products, remaining family-owned until the 1970s. During this time, another company that would figure prominently in the future of Berger Bros was established. Life Care Communities Corporation was established in 1979 as a private company engaged in developing, marketing, and managing residential retirement life-care communities on a fee basis for non-profit ventures. By 1983, the company had begun shifting the scope of its operations to include developing and constructing the Life Care facilities. At this time its name was changed to Inovex Industries Inc.