San Antonio homeowners are increasingly turning to fiberglass pools as a wave of concrete pools built during the COVID-19 construction boom begins to fail, according to the latest episode of The Building Texas Show. The episode, recorded live at the San Antonio Home and Garden Show and released September 14, 2026, features Jeff and Kelley Turner, owners of Staycation Fiberglass Pools, who explain the technical and regulatory factors behind this shift.
The Turners attribute many of the failures to alkali-silica reaction (ASR), commonly called “concrete cancer,” which causes concrete to crack and disintegrate. Repair costs for affected pools can range from $200,000 to $400,000, often requiring full tear-outs. These failures are particularly prevalent in pools built during the COVID-era rush, when demand outpaced skilled labor and proper oversight.
A key driver of the problem, according to Jeff Turner, is the lack of licensing requirements for pool builders in Texas. “In Texas, you need more certifications to do hair than you do to build a pool,” he said. While the Pool and Hot Tub Association (PHTA) offers voluntary certification, homeowners must specifically ask for it. This regulatory gap leaves consumers vulnerable to low bids that cut corners on critical elements like engineering plans, bonding, pump sizing, and deck scope—areas where the Turners say cut-rate contracts quietly fail.
Fiberglass pools, by contrast, offer a more durable and predictable alternative. The Turners highlight manufacturer warranties from companies like San Juan, with over 70 years in business, and Australia-based Aqua Technics as benchmarks. They also discuss renovation options such as EcoFinish flame-applied polymer resurfacing for existing concrete pools.
For business leaders and homeowners, this trend signals a broader shift in the $1.2 billion Texas pool industry. As concrete failures mount, demand for fiberglass and hybrid solutions is likely to rise. The Turners recently completed a hybrid negative-edge rebuild in Dripping Springs, rescuing a one-year-old fiberglass pool that looked thirty years old due to a failed installer. The full build sequence, from shell to a 30-foot infinity edge over the Hill Country, is available on YouTube.
Industry observers note that the lack of regulation could prompt calls for statewide certification, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics. For now, experts advise homeowners to verify builder credentials, demand PHTA certification, and scrutinize turnkey quotes for hidden exclusions. The Turners' completed projects can be viewed at staycationfiberglasspools.com.
