San Antonio homeowners are increasingly turning to fiberglass pools as a wave of concrete pools built during the COVID-19 construction boom begin to fail, 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 concrete pools are leading to repair bills in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Turners, appearing 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. Jeff Turner does not mince words about the regulatory environment: "In Texas, you need more certifications to do hair than you do to build a pool. 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." The lack of state certification for pool builders means homeowners must proactively ask about credentials like PHTA (Pool and Hot Tub Association) certification, which is voluntary.
The financial implications are severe. Turner describes fielding calls from homeowners whose concrete shells are disintegrating, forcing $200,000 to $400,000 tear-outs that most builders carry no insurance to cover. This situation underscores the importance of understanding what a genuine turnkey fiberglass price should include, from engineering plans to proper bonding and correctly sized pump equipment. The Turners also break down a hybrid negative-edge rebuild they completed in Dripping Springs, showcasing the full build sequence from shell to a 30-foot infinity edge over the Hill Country. Viewers can see the rebuild on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (link marked as rel="nofollow" target="_blank").
Manufacturer warranties from builders like San Juan and Aqua Technics are highlighted as benchmarks. Kelley Turner frames the builder-client relationship as akin to dating, emphasizing that a warranty's true value depends on the builder's reliability. The Turners credit training from Jason Hughes and River Pools for shaping their client education approach.
For homeowners, the episode serves as a cautionary tale about low bids that cut corners on bonding, pump sizing, and deck scope. It also points to a broader trend: as concrete pools fail, fiberglass options are gaining traction for their durability and lower long-term costs. The Turners' completed projects can be viewed at https://staycationfiberglasspools.com (link marked as rel="nofollow" target="_blank"). The episode is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example (link marked as rel="nofollow" target="_blank").
The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, profiles the entrepreneurs and tradespeople shaping the Texas economy. New episodes post two to three times a week, offering practical insights for consumers. As the pool industry grapples with the fallout from the COVID-era boom, the Turners' message is clear: homeowners must educate themselves before signing a contract, or risk joining the ranks of those facing six-figure repairs.
