Rising Concrete Pool Failures Drive San Antonio Homeowners to Fiberglass

A wave of concrete pools constructed during the COVID-19 era is now failing across Texas, with repair bills reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to a recent episode of The Building Texas Show. The episode, recorded live at the San Antonio Home and Garden Show and released on September 14, 2026, features Jeff and Kelley Turner, owners of Staycation Fiberglass Pools, who explain why homeowners are increasingly choosing fiberglass over concrete.

The Turners, in the second installment of the show's San Antonio Home and Garden Series, discuss the rise of alkali-silica reaction (ASR), often called "concrete cancer," in pools built during and after the pandemic. This condition causes concrete to crack and disintegrate, leading to tear-outs that can cost between $200,000 and $400,000. Most builders carry no insurance to cover such failures, leaving homeowners financially exposed.

A key issue is the lack of regulation in Texas. "In Texas, you need more certifications to do hair than you do to build a pool," Jeff Turner says. "It's wild. And you need to be a chemist to be a hairdresser, and you don't need to be a chemist to build a pool." While PHTA certification exists, it is voluntary, and homeowners must specifically ask for it. This gap allows unqualified builders to operate, often resulting in low bids that cut corners on critical elements like engineering plans, bonding, pump sizing, and deck scope.

The Turners emphasize that a genuine turnkey fiberglass quote includes these components, and they point to manufacturer warranties from companies like San Juan and Aqua Technics as benchmarks. Kelley Turner compares the builder-manufacturer relationship to dating, underscoring the importance of understanding what a warranty actually covers. The episode also highlights a hybrid negative-edge rebuild in Dripping Springs, where the Turners rescued a one-year-old fiberglass pool that looked thirty years old. The full build sequence, including a 30-foot infinity edge over the Hill Country, is available on YouTube.

For homeowners, the implications are significant. With concrete pool failures on the rise, fiberglass offers a more durable and potentially cost-effective alternative. However, the lack of state oversight means consumers must be vigilant. The Turners advise asking builders about certifications, warranty details, and the full scope of work before signing a contract. They credit training from Jason Hughes and River Pools for shaping their client education approach.

As the Texas pool industry grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-era construction boom, this episode serves as a cautionary tale and a guide for homeowners. It underscores the need for due diligence and highlights the growing preference for fiberglass pools as a reliable solution. The full episode can be watched on YouTube, and more information about the Turners' projects is available at staycationfiberglasspools.com.