David Hobaica | President | Easton Pool & Spa | Easton, Mass.
Island Elegance
Homeowners on Martha’s Vineyard are almost exclusively fans of concrete swimming pools.
Known as a getaway for the rich and famous, the Massachusetts island hosts summering residents who tend to hold nothing back when it comes to extravagance. So it was a little surprising when Easton Pool and Spa presented this concept for a shotcrete and pebble pool, only to have the owners opt for vinyl instead — sacrificing nothing in quality.
Working in conjunction with architect Keith Musinski of Equilibrium Design, Easton Pool’s David Hobaica laid out the patio to reflect the clean lines of the home and selected materials to reflect its contrasting color scheme. This is seen in the pool’s black liner and the home’s black trim, and the correlation between the bluestone coping and off-white siding.
The 16-by-32-foot pool features a set of custom-built concrete, cascading stairs in the corner, and a bench in the deep end.
Special consideration was made for the vinyl spa. While many builders choose to run their pools and spas on separate equipment, Easton Pool has changed course over the years, instead operating the two bodies of water from the same equipment set. Doing so means that the spa cools down when not in use, which helps preserve the longevity of the spa liner, Hobaica explains. And because heaters are more efficient these days, it takes only a few minutes to fire up the spa to the desired temperature.
The project presented a couple of unique challenges. For one, the pool had to be at least 20 feet from a septic drain field. Because the existing field was too close, it had to be abandoned, necessitating a new subsurface wastewater system farther away.
There was also the issue of knotweed. Dirt excavated from the site had to shipped off the island to a treatment facility to eradicate any trace of the invasive species so it couldn’t spread to the dirt’s final destination. This was a first for the 45-year-old builder.
The end result is an elegant pool that perfectly reflects its surroundings.
SUPPLIERS:
Vinyl liner, cover: Loop-Loc
Pump, filter, heater, controller, chemical feeder, lights, Jets/swim currents/spa components, drain covers/fittings, skimmers: Hayward Pool Products
Tile, coping: Blue Stone
Fencing: Plymouth Stockade, Martha's Vineyard
