We are expanding our leak repair department and would like someone to share with us the tricks to doing skimmer replacements. We'll send you a couple of gift cards for your time. Please contact me at Mark@MyPoolDoctor.com

On which kind of pool? Concrete, vinyl liner, or fiberglass?

If we are going to do skimmer replacement in a liner pool;
Lower the water to 4-5" below the skimmer. Get a lump of 8x2 and cut out a notch that is appx 4" up the side of the skimmer and all the way along. Screw this to the wall through the liner, pool side. This stops any debris from dropping behind the liner as you take the old skimmer out and keeps the liner in position. I guess you could batten through the liner around the skimmer position, I like a large lump as it only needs a few fixings, less holes to repair after. You need to leave enough space to remove and replace the face plate. If worse comes to worse you can always stick a new bit of liner on the old.

What is 8x2 ???

timber, 8 x 2 inches

r U replacing skimmers in gunite pools? If so I can give you a few tips and tricks. My average skimmer replacement is 6 hrs from start to finished including loading and unloading all tools and patching decks and that is doing it by myself. I have done them in less time and have had them out of the ground in less than an hour.