Kim Skinner began work in the pool industry, first as an employee and eventually manager of Skinner Swim Pool Plastering, Inc. of Sun Valley, California. He later became president of Pool Chlor, a chemical service firm with offices throughout the Southwest. He has worked in the swimming pool industry for 50 years.

Mr. Skinner has performed both laboratory and field research on pool water chemistry and on the relationships between water chemistry and pool plaster surfaces. He has developed novel processes for swimming pool chemical treatment, including the bicarbonate start-up method for new plaster pools.

He is the co-author of several technical reports on swimming pool water chemistry and plaster phenomena, which have been featured in the trade press. He has also authored material published in the Journal of the Swimming Pool and Spa Industry, a peer-reviewed research journal. These articles have included:

  • “Dosages for Alkalinity” (with Que Hales) – JSPSI V1N1 pp. 14-20
  • “The Addition of Muriatic Acid: Results and Implications of Using Varied Methods of Muriatic Acid Application in Swimming Pool Water” (with Que Hales) – JSPSI V1N2 pp. 16-30
  • “New Plaster Start-up Chemistry Using Sodium Bicarbonate (with Que Hales and Doug Latta) – JSPSI V3N2 pp. 12-20
  • “Calcium Nodules” (with Que Hales) – JSPSI V3N2 pp. 21-26
  • “New Plaster Start-up Chemistry Using Sodium Bicarbonate (with Que Hales and Doug Latta) – NSPI Symposium Proceedings Volume 2 1997 pp. 34-41
  • “A Critique of the Dow Whitney Report” (with Que Hales and Doug Latta) – JSPSI V4N2 pp. 29-41
  • “The Total Dissolved Solids Contributions of Various Swimming Pool and Spa Balancing Compounds” JSPSI V5N1 pp. 57-59

 

Mr. Skinner is a co-author of the Sodium Hypochlorite (Chlorine Bleach) Pool Applicator Study Guide, published by the Swimming Pool Water Treatment Professionals.

Mr. Skinner has been a speaker and panelist at various trade conventions, including the Western Pool and Spa Show, and annual conventions of the Swimming Pool Water Treatment Professionals and the National Plasterers Council. He is also involved with the National Spa and Pool Institute, the Chlorine Institute, and the American Concrete Institute.

 

Mr. Skinner is a voting member of:

  • The American Concrete Institute’s Committee 524 – “Portland Cement Plastering”.
  • A voting member of the APSP Recreational Water Quality Committee
  • A voting member of the APSP Technical Committee

Accomplishments To-Date

  • Corrected industry dosage chart for lowering alkalinity with muriatic acid
  • Corrected industry dosage chart for lowering alkalinity with sodium bisulfate
  • Corrected industry dosage chart for raising alkalinity with sodium bicarbonate
  • Dispelled the “Acid Column” Myth
  • Mapped chlorine distribution through pools as a function of pH change
  • Developed a systematic dosage formula system for most common pool chemicals
  • Proved the cause of and a mechanical model for the formation of calcium nodules
  • Proved the cause of and a mechanical model for spot etching
  • Dispelled the “Bicarb vs. Soda Ash Alkalinity and pH Effect” Myth
  • Performed an Etching Study to develop hallmarks of plaster acid attack
  • Developed a systematic method for chloride analysis of hardened pool plaster
  • Exposed the Dow Whitney Report’s plagiarism and mis-reporting of experiment results
  • Performed an Alkalinity Experiment to study the effects of various alkalinity levels on various pool surface materials
  • Performed a comparative study between spectrometer, “wet”, and test strip methods of analyzing pool water chemistry
  • Performed a comparative study on the efficacy of sand, cartridge, and DE filters on the removal of turbidity
  • With the University of Arizona, performed a comparative study on the efficacy of sand, cartridge, and DE filters on the removal of pathogens
  • Developed the sodium bicarbonate start-up method
  • Analyzed start-up chemistry methods, and showed why bicarb starts are a better alternative than either acid or traditional start-up methods
  • Studied the effect on pool plaster of the length of time between finish troweling a pool surface and starting the water to fill the pool
  • Developed buffer charts and formulas for carbonate, cyanurate, and borate buffer systems
  • Developed a chemical method for determining pool volume
  • Identified and educated the industry about calcium sulfate crystal formation
  • Educated the industry on CO2 chemistry, with practical applications
  • Developed and distributed several dozen case histories, including onsite examinations and failure analysis of spot etched, crazed, discolored, and stained pools
  • Studied and educated the industry on the effects of calcium chloride abuse, including discoloration, crazing, and cement-color incompatibility issues
  • Served as consultants and expert witnesses in plaster/chemistry confrontations
  • Taught at NSPI, WPSS, NPC, NAGC, SPWTP, IPPSA, and other trade conventions and conferences