The company was started in 1900 by Peter T. McNerney with his wife Octavia. P.T., who was the street commissioner of the city of Toledo, started the company in the roofing field. On March 3, 1920, P.T. McNerney, with his sons John and Carleton, incorporated the company under the name of Toledo Pure Asphalt Roofing Company at 1101 Cherry St., in Toledo. On February 10, 1926, John H. McNerney and Carleton T. McNerney bought out Peter T. and Octavia. The business was then moved from 1101 Cherry St. to 1324-16 Cherry St. In 1955, N.J. McNerney bought out his father, John H. and his uncle, Carleton T., and the name was changed to McNerney & Son., Inc. Over the years, the company has developed from an asphalt roofing company in 1900 to a construction company in 1957 and finally to a general contractor and construction manager. In 1972 and 1974 the company acquired land from the Schnell family, via William Henry Harrison, for an industrial park - Wales Road Industrial Community. Improvements were added to make 74 fully improved industrial lots and was renamed McNerney Park in 2000. Enterprise zone status was conveyed to McNerney Park in 1990.

John H. McNerney II joined the firm in 1992 and was instrumental in expanding the company's operations by adding two new product lines. In 1992, the interior division was started up to provide partition and furniture systems, and in-plant office and mezzanines. In 1993, the pre-engineered steel building line was introduced featuring pre-engineered building systems. In 1995, McNerney Road was completed, opening 10 additional parcels (1,2,3 and 5 acre) in McNerney Park. In August of 1996, John H. McNerney II was named president and agreed to purchase the company from James McNerney, becoming the fourth generation to own and manage McNerney.