Vinyl plank is designed to resemble real hardwood flooring. It comes in planks like wood and the install is similar. The advantages of vinyl plank include the fact that it is waterproof, wear resistant and are also softer to stand on for long periods of time. This is because many vinyl flooring installations have a soft underlayment that gives a bit of give that traditional hardwood floors don't. The waterproof nature of vinyl plank allows you to install it virtually anywhere, including bathrooms and kitchens.