Our guest today is Marianna Sparks, founder of Property Pro's, a property stewardship company with a mission to foster sustainability in the building industry. Marianna speaks to us today about the difference between demolition and deconstruction. We explore the staggering amounts of waste created by construction demolition every day, and how careful deconstruction offers a sustainable alternative to reuse megatons of building materials.
Driven by a desire to facilitate positive change, Marianna is constantly expanding her knowledge of environmental initiatives such as Circularity and Climate Justice. She leverages this knowledge to implement strategies for greater impact in creating more sustainability in a highly wasteful sector of our economy. Her role at Property Pro’s is multi-faceted with valuation, innovation, collaboration, research, participation in trade organizations, problem solving, content and report creation, education, and customer relations at the forefront.
Topics Discussed 


Zigbone Farm Retreat, Sabillasville, MD


Second Chance in Baltimore


Community Forklift in DC

An overview of the reuse industry


Property Pros is an appraisal company that appraises architectural reuse materials

An average 2,000 square foot house will create about 20 tons of materials that will end up in the landfill


Demolition vs deconstruction


Property Pros also does consulting to help people learn about the possibilities for these materials

Since deconstruction and material reuse is not part of the usual process, it can be difficult to find contractors that are open to the possibilities

How the value of materials might help offset the costs of deconstruction

Why isn’t the reuse industry more mainstream? 

Some cities are implementing incentives such as expedited permitting and increasing landfill fees to encourage homeowners to explore the possibilities of deconstruction’


Build Reuse–an organization that advocates for the reuse industry

Marianna’s background, how she was raised with the idea of reuse and was inspired while living abroad in the military

New ideas and innovations in the reuse industry

The typical Property Pros client and how the process works


Lifecycle Building Center in Atlanta

Celebrities often donate their materials

Reclaimed lumber can often have a lot of value

Reusing concrete

One problem in the industry is availability of materials when people need them/flexibility is necessary

Reuse is the ultimate in sustainability


Connect with Marianna:

Website: gotopropertypros and www.artisangardencompany.com

Instagram: @artisangardenco and @gotopropertypros




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Original music by John Kingsley. Our technical partner for this series is CitizenRacecar, Post-Production by Alex Brouwer and José Miguel Baez, Coordinated by Gabriela Montequin and Mary Ball. The Good Dirt is a part of the Connectd Podcasts Network.
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