About Us

We appreciate that people like to know more about the companies they deal with. Here is our story. You may also want to visit “Our People” to learn more about those that make Houseworks Daylighting Solutions so special.

We are proud of our Better Business Bureau Accreditation and carry the highest “A+” rating. We have also been awarded the BBB “Complaint-Free” Award for each of the last nine years; an accomplishment few have achieved. We opened our doors in 2001 and have literally thousands of very satisfied customers. Please call us for references and pricing.

Our Story begins in Glenview, Illinois in April 2001 when Buff Hoffberg opened Houseworks, Inc as a provider of tubular skylights similar to the VELUX Sun Tunnel. After installing tubular skylights for hundreds of customers, Mr. Hoffberg realized that not every home was an ideal candidate for this one type of skylight. He determined that his customers wanted a greater selection with more options than the company he was using could provide. There were many homes that would be better served with a traditional glass skylight, or venting skylights, or electrically controlled units with blinds and built-in rain sensors. Other homes would still need tubular skylights, especially in smaller rooms. So late in 2005, Houseworks became Houseworks Daylighting Solutions and began a relationship with VELUX, America’s largest skylight manufacturer. Houseworks Daylighting Solutions soon became one of the first and very few companies in the country to specialize in skylights. As a Certified VELUX Dealer, Houseworks could now offer all varieties of traditional skylights and Sun Tunnels as well as SunRise™ Solar Attic Fans.

Houseworks Grows

In 2007, Jeff Brooks, a long-time friend and fellow Boy Scout Leader, invested in the firm and the two became partners. That same year the firm incorporated as an LLC. Installation volume began to grow rapidly and more installation teams were hired, trained, and certified by VELUX. The partnership benefited from the combined and varied talents brought to the firm by both men. By 2009 Houseworks had grown to sell and install more VELUX skylights, and solar fans than any firm in Illinois and Iowa. That leadership is still true to this day.

Houseworks becomes a Five-Star Skylight Specialist

In 2008 as Houseworks Daylighting Solutions, LLC continued to grow and provide exceptional service, VELUX awarded the firm its highest designation – Certified Five-Star Skylight Specialist. Each VELUX Five-Star Dealer was required to meet the highest levels of quality installation, craftsmanship, competency, and ethical business practices. In the entire country there were only a handful of dealers that were awarded this distinction.

In the summer of 2008 Houseworks moved to a much larger showroom and warehouse facility in Glenview, west of The Glen. With the added storage space, Houseworks could carry much more inventory to efficiently serve its residential and commercial customers.

The new showroom featured several installed skylights and displays of VELUX products allowing homeowners, architects, roofers and builders to see the complete product line and be able to match the correct product with their customer’s needs.

Houseworks opens a wholesale department

In the spring of 2009 Houseworks opened a commercial skylight desk to service roofers and contractors searching for a knowledgeable outlet from which to purchase skylights. Because Houseworks was an experienced installation company, they could provide valuable information, techniques and solutions that other wholesalers of skylights could not. Many roofing contractors found Houseworks to be a great resource and would often hire us to handle their skylight installations. Houseworks became a top choice for roofers and contractors to order the skylights they needed on their jobs. Houseworks added a large skylight and flashing kit inventory for these customers who often found they were “one short” or need a last-minute flashing for a skylight.

Houseworks becomes a commercial skylight dealer

About this same time VELUX expanded its commercial skylight division and rolled out a unique modular skylight system, the VELUX Modular System (VMS). The modular design required no on-site glazing and could be extended to almost any length. Houseworks recognized the extraordinary value the VMS offered and became an early leader, selling and installing more units than any other dealer in its first year of availability.

VELUX buys WASCO Skylights

Adding to the expansion of the commercial desk was the purchase by VELUX of Wasco, a noted leader in the design and manufacture of custom-sized skylights. Houseworks now had a complete line of metal-framed structural skylights that could be installed in both residential and commercial applications.

Houseworks opens an office in Iowa

In 2011 Houseworks was offered an opportunity by VELUX to set up operations in Des Moines to service central Iowa. There were no certified skylight dealers or installers in the state and Houseworks was pleased to be asked to provide services to central Iowa. A new office was opened in Clive, a suburb of Des Moines. Lee Collins became the manager. Houseworks is the only VELUX Five-Star Certified dealer and installer in the entire state of IOWA.

By 2014 Houseworks Daylighting Solutions, LLC had become a very experienced dealer selling and installing a record number of skylights.  Our installation crews had grown too, both in numbers and experience.  Several of our installers (all Five-Star Certified and VELUX trained) passed the 750 unit installation threshold.

In April of 2016 Houseworks was dealt a crushing blow when its founder, Buff Hoffberg, died of cancer.  Fortunately, the firm had time to prepare and, while much was lost, Houseworks continued with Jeff Brooks (Buff's business partner of over ten years) and Leann Ledgerwood (the firm's very first employee) taking the helm.

The firm continues to grow

Despite setbacks from COVID 19, Houseworks has continued to grow. Selling and installing more skylights than any other firm in Illinois and Iowa was never the firm’s goal. And while that speaks to the company’s experience and competency, the business mission statement is clearly focused on quality and customer satisfaction. Price is important, but any good company that ignores profits will not be around to take care of its customers.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

To earn a fair profit selling, servicing and installing Daylighting and Solar products by providing our customers with top-quality products, exceptional service and a thorough knowledge of our craft.

To be the most ethical company we can be.

WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE QUALITY AWARDS HOUSEWORKS DAYLIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC HAS RECEIVED.