The History of SandStar
Read more about the journey we started in 1981 below.
The SandStar Timeline
1981
Jim Sanders founded Five Star General Contracting, Inc., a full-service contracting firm involved in all aspects of building, including single-family homes, condominiums, remodeling, and commercial construction in Charlotte, Lee, Collier, and Sarasota counties.
1992
Larry Sandles joined Five Star General Contracting, Inc., as Vice President. Before joining Five Star, he served as Vice President and a senior project manager at Sun Castle Builders of Punta Gorda. Larry’s varied responsibilities at Sun Castle included supervising all aspects of construction, from conception to completion, as well as managing the company’s daily business operations.
1997
Jim and Larry completed their first collaborative construction effort under the new SandStar Custom Homes banner with the opening of the Grande Vista II model in May. SandStar Custom Homes was founded to highlight its award-winning custom home endeavors, focusing on “design and build” high-end, custom residential homes. Meanwhile, Five Star General Contracting continued its successful commercial and remodeling enterprise.
2004
Hurricane Charley slammed into the west coast of Florida, with its eye passing over Punta Gorda, FL. The SandStar team went into action and began helping their customers and their community rebuild one brick at a time.
2005
“SandStar” became the primary brand, encompassing the following businesses: SandStar Homes, LLC, SandStar Remodeling, SandStar Custom Kitchens and Baths, SandStar Custom Cabinetry, and SandStar Commercial Construction.
2007
SandStar joined the Arthur Rutenberg Homes franchise family for new home construction, becoming Arthur Rutenberg Homes/SandStar Homes, LLC, and serving all of Charlotte County.
2011 – 2012
SandStar added two new divisions to their family: “Interiors by SandStar” and “SandStar Handyman Services,” to help their clients decorate their new or remodeled homes and maintain them for a lifetime. Fully licensed for all phases of construction, SandStar takes the worry out of hiring the best people to work on your home.
2012
SandStar celebrated the opening of their new model home, the Turnberry. Located at 3456 Bal Harbor Boulevard in Punta Gorda. (Now closed.)
2015
SandStar celebrated the opening of their new model home, the Turnberry II. Located at 3400 Bal Harbor Boulevard in Punta Gorda. (Now closed.)
2017
In December 2017, SandStar was both delighted and disheartened to announce that Larry Sandles, Vice President of SandStar companies, would be retiring at the end of the year. Larry’s retirement was a loss for the company, but a well-deserved respite for him. CLICK HERE to read the official announcement and a few words from Larry on the SandStar Blog.
2018
SandStar added another new division to their family: “The SandStar Home Maintenance Program.” This service was designed to address the items in your home that require attention on a monthly, semi-annual, and annual basis. SandStar will come to your home and review all the items that require maintenance; then, you can pick and choose. Your personal SandStar home maintenance program will be tailored to suit your needs.
2019
SandStar celebrated the opening of their new model home, the Regatta. Located at 605 West Henry Street in Punta Gorda. (Now closed.)
As a franchise of the luxury home builder, Arthur Rutenberg Homes announced their official rebranding to AR Homes by Arthur Rutenberg. CLICK HERE to discover luxury living.
2020
With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the U.S. hard in the Spring of 2020, SandStar announced a special contest in honor of the dedication, sacrifice, and selflessness of those currently working in the health industry to help support the COVID-19 fight. One Healthcare Hero in Charlotte County would receive a bathroom renovation valued at up to $10,000 in retail value. It was not a decision made quickly or lightly by the judges. With over 100 nominations and a total of 47 individuals nominated, many deserving recipients embodied the definition of a Healthcare Hero. In May, SandStar announced that Lisa Ferrentino was the winner of the Charlotte County Healthcare Heroes contest. Lisa is a charge nurse at the COVID-19 Unit in the ICU at Fawcett Memorial Hospital.
Saying Goodbye: In September, with both heavy hearts and warm wishes, SandStar announced the retirement of its Interior Design Consultant, Olena Turkalo (known to many as the famous “O”). During her tenure at SandStar, Olena created stunning interiors and delivered exceptional customer service. SandStar was very proud to have had her on their team. She and her husband, Mark, were now on to their next adventure – retirement!
Saying Hello: Allison Fenn joined the crew as the new design consultant at SandStar Interiors. At the time she joined, Allison had over 28 years of experience in the interior design field, was a professional member of ASID, was certified by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification, and was a Florida-licensed interior designer.
2021
SandStar celebrated its 40th anniversary (1981-2021). 
In honor of the special milestone, SandStar made significant updates in 2021, including a brand-new company logo and refreshed website format. CLICK HERE to read the anniversary article by Jim Sanders.
2022
At the end of 2021, SandStar undertook several much-needed updates to the SandStar Design Studio, including introducing a brand-new paint color and updating signage with the new SandStar and AR Homes logo designs. The SandStar Design Studio is a mecca for the SandStar family of companies. Along with their professional design studio and connections with top product brands in the industry, they also offer an in-house design team and contractors, working together to make their process more efficient and help transform clients’ ideas, inspirations, and experiences into their dream home.
2025
The SandStar Design Studio underwent a much-needed and complete renovation. But this was no minor remodel; they completely revamped the space with new and exciting built-in features (cabinetry, countertops, fixtures, and more) to showcase the latest trends and designs that clients and visitors could see and touch, as well as new flooring, paint, and the whole shebang. A grand re-opening was also held for the studio on April 16, featuring refreshments—light hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, and soft drinks—and allowing attendees to explore all the beautiful features of the newly renovated space.
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