Deck Jets vs. Laminars: Pros & Cons of Each

Landscape photo of a blue inground fiberglass pool featuring a tanning ledge, atop which sits two white lounge chairs and bubblers. On the far side of the pool are two deck jets shooting arcs of water into the pool. The pool is surrounded by a brick paver patio. Large evergreen trees surround the pool and take up the entirety of the background behind the pool.

An inground pool is an excellent outdoor centerpiece. Few backyard additions add the same level of high value and enjoyment that an inground pool does. But a great backyard design as a whole is much more than just a pool.

Pairing water features with an inground pool can take a good backyard design and transform it into a great one. Rock-waterfalls and sheer descent waterfalls add significant aesthetic value to your design, but they take up significant space. How about features that are both interactive and decorative?

In this article, we’re breaking down laminars and deck jets. On first glance, these two features look almost identical, until you look closer. Not only do laminars and deck jets perform slightly different functions, but they also operate differently, produce unique visual effects, and come with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Royal Pools G2 Landscaping installs and services inground pools across Northwest Indiana and South Chicagoland, many of which include deck jets or laminars. They are great products with individual pros and cons. Let’s break down what these features are, the pros and cons of each, and which one might be right for you and your backyard design.

What Are Pool Deck Jets?

Landscape photo taken from in front of a blue inground fiberglass pool with a tanning ledge with bubblers. Two white lounge chairs sit on top of the tanning ledge in the foreground of the image. The pool is surrounded by a brick paver patio. On the left side of the image is a border garden running along the length of the pool, atop which sits multiple small ferns. in front of the garden, between it and the pool, two deck jets shoot arcs of water into the pool. In the background, parallel to the deep-end width of the pool, is a rectangular brick paver wall with a gap in the middle with wires visible. Behind the wall and around the pool are evergreen trees. Small evergreens line the yard behind the brick wall, and large evergreen trees line the side of the pool in the top right corner of the image.

If you’ve spent time in yards with inground pools, odds are you have probably seen a deck jet or a laminar before. The question is, did you know which one you were looking at?

A pool deck jet is a small nozzle installed into your pool patio along the perimeter of the pool that sits flush with the patio surface. These nozzles then shoot an arching stream of water into the pool, falling the surface. Deck jets add both an aesthetic and interactive water feature to your pool.

Deck jets have become a go-to for new pool owners because they add visual effect, movement, and ambient sound to backyard designs without taking up too much space.

Pros of Pool Deck Jets

Affordable Feature

Deck jets are typically one of the more budget-friendly pool water features. This makes them a fantastic option for new pool owners looking to add an interactive water feature without breaking the bank.

Ambient Noise

Homeowners love this aspect of deck jets. We all love white noise, don’t we, folks? Deck jets create white noise, which helps cultivate a calming backyard atmosphere.

Interactive Family Fun

Deck jets aren’t just for show. In addition to visual appeal, they make for a fun, interactive water feature that both kids and adults can enjoy.

Flexible Placement

Deck jets can be installed:

  • Along one side of the pool
  • On both long sides
  • At corners
  • Around tanning ledges

Versatile placement options give deck jets the ability to complement just about any pool shape and backyard design.

Ease of Installation

Deck jets are easy to install, particularly when compared to other water features. Additionally, deck jets can be outfitted around new pool designs and existing pools alike.

Cons of Pool Deck Jets

Higher Wind Sensitivity

Deck jets do not move large amounts of water, typically around 3 – 5 gallons per minute. This makes them susceptible to strong winds breaking apart the water arc.

Less Visual Appeal

While beautiful, deck jets produce a softer, frothier stream compared to laminars. If you’re looking for a sleek, architectural effect, they may not deliver the visual impact you’re after.

When compared to laminars, which we’ll discuss shortly, deck jets produce a softer, wavier look. Additionally, they bubble the water’s surface, which some homeowners dislike.

Are you looking for a sleek, unbroken arc of water to add maximum visual appeal? Let’s talk about laminars.

What Are Pool Laminars?

Square image of four laminars shooting curved, solid arcs of water into a glowing blue inground fiberglass pool at nighttime. A basketball hoop is placed in the middle of the four laminars on the left side of the pool/image. Beyond the pool is black, blurred houses, the lights from which can be seen glowing in the background.

Pool laminars also shoot water from your deck into your pool, but that’s where the similarities end.

Unlike deck jets, laminars produce an extremely smooth, crystal-clear stream of water. Internal flow regulators built within the laminar housing eliminate turbulence and streamline the water arc before it exits the nozzle. This gives the water arc a clear, smooth, glass-like appearance.

All pool laminars feature integrated LED lighting systems that illuminate the water streams during nighttime. This makes laminars one of the most elegant and visually striking pool water features on the market, and a must-have for many new pool owners.

Pros of Pool Laminars

Stunning Visual Effect

If you’ve ever seen a laminar, you can attest to its elegance and beauty. The solid, glass-like streams they produce instantly produce a luxurious, upscale appearance that enhances any backyard.

In daylight, laminar-produced water arcs are almost invisible unless caught in the sunlight. During the night, glowing purple or red arcs of water become a dramatic focal point in backyards.

LED Lighting Availability

As previously stated, all laminar systems include color-changing LED lights inside the nozzle itself.

This creates glowing arcs of water that can coordinate with:

  • Pool lighting
  • Landscape lighting
  • Holiday colors
  • Party themes

The nighttime water-illumination effect is difficult to match with any other backyard water feature.

Smooth, Glass-like Arch of Water

Because laminar housings eliminate turbulence from the flow before the water exits the nozzle, the stream remains stunningly smooth and consistently calm under normal conditions.

Elegant, High-end Appearance

If you’re designing a high-end outdoor living space, laminars often pair beautifully with:

  • Modern pool designs
  • Geometric pools
  • Contemporary landscaping
  • Outdoor entertainment areas

Cons of Pool Laminars

Higher Cost

As you may have already guessed, laminars are more expensive than deck jets. Laminars are more expensive to install due to internal components and LED lighting systems requiring specialized labor.

More Sensitive to Wind

There is a downside to having a smooth, unbroken stream of water. No air rippling through the stream makes laminars more susceptible to wind disrupting the perfect arc. Even light breezes

Require Cleaner Water

The precision nozzles inside pool laminars work best with properly balanced, filtered water. Debris or poor water quality can affect performance if maintenance is neglected.

The number one most important aspect of owning a pool is maintaining balanced water chemistry. Balanced chemistry keeps your pool clean, clear, and swimmable at all times. Pool laminar nozzles operate best with properly balanced pool water. 

Which Water Feature Is Better?

This will depend on your needs as well as what you hope to achieve or attain with your backyard.

Choose Pool Deck Jets If:

  • You enjoy the relaxing sound of moving water.
  • You have young children who will play with the streams.
  • You’re looking for a fun addition to your pool without a large investment.

Choose Pool Laminars If:

  • You want a luxury backyard aesthetic.
  • You’re interested in dramatic nighttime lighting.
  • You prefer clean, sleek lines.

Comparison Chart

Take a look at the chart below for further comparison between deck jets and laminars.

Feature Pool Deck Jets Pool Laminars
Water stream Bubbly, aerated Crystal clear, smooth
Aesthetic Look Traditional Modern, upscale
Sound Gentle bubbling Very quiet
LED Lighting Rare  Common 
Cost Lower  Higher 
Wind Resistance Moderate More sensitive
Family Fun Top-notch Primarily decorative
Maintenance Minimal Higher

Conclusion

There you have it, folks. As we said at the beginning of this article, a great backyard is much more than just a pool. The features you put around your pool can make all the difference between a generic backyard and a beautiful, unique backyard. When it comes to laminars vs. deck jets, the best feature is the one that fits with your swim needs, backyard design goals, and budget.

Here at Royal Pools G2 Landscaping, educating our clients and pool owners on their options is one of our favorite practices. You can’t really go wrong with deck jets or laminars, but we cannot decide for you. We just provide the information! Whether you’re looking for an interactive, playful feature or an elegant focal point, our team can help you craft a backyard design that’s unique to you. Thanks for reading. Have a great day!

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Written by Logan Edgemon