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Vinyl flooring and laminate flooring have many of the same advantages: durable, beautiful, economical and easy to install yourself. From a distance, the two types of floors even look similar.

In all categories, neither type of floor is better than the other. Vinyl flooring is best for areas with high humidity and is easy to keep clean. However, laminate flooring offers a wider choice of styles and has a higher resale value.

Vinyl flooring may look like a strong, homogeneous material, but it is actually a layered product—much like laminate flooring. At least four layers make up the vinyl floor. The top is a clear wear-resistant layer, and the high-definition photographic layer is directly below. The thick core layer constitutes most of the floor, and the bottom is a soft foam layer.

Composite flooring consists of four or five layers of materials. On the top is a transparent wear-resistant layer to protect the underlying image-a photographic image of wood or stone. The third layer is a thin, impact-resistant layer, followed by most products: high-density fiberboard or HDF. The last layer, and the lowest layer, is a soft foam, or some laminate, is a paper backing layer.

Higher-quality vinyl planks and tile floors use an image or photo layer under a hard, clear wear layer. This image is usually of wood type (for example, oak, maple, or hickory) or less common stone.

However, not all vinyl floors have this realistic appearance. Older and lower-priced panels and tile vinyl floors are printed using a rotogravure printing process (such as a cylindrical printing press) with a transparent wear-resistant layer.

All laminate flooring uses a high-definition photographic layer under the transparent wear-resistant layer to create the appearance of real wood or stone.

The outstanding feature of laminate flooring is its appearance. Almost all colors, types and types of natural wood and stone floors can be found in laminate flooring: hand-scraped, rustic, reclaimed wood, multi-toned, natural finish, stucco, multi-length, etc.

For vinyl and laminate floors, it is best to start with dry cleaning, such as using a vacuum cleaner, brush, broom, or dust mop. To remove embedded dirt, usually only need to wet mopping with a neutral detergent.

The difference between vinyl flooring and laminate flooring is wet mopping. For particularly dirty floors, wet mopping is sometimes the easiest way to clean the floor. Vinyl flooring can be mopped wet, but laminate flooring cannot.

Thick, high-quality vinyl floors can last up to 25 years, while thinner vinyl floors are limited to less than 10 years.

Laminate floors can last for 15 to 25 years, but poorly maintained laminate floors may only last for 5 to 10 years.

In discount stores, the price of vinyl flooring ranges from US$0.60 to US$4.00 per square foot. The price of vinyl sheet can be as low as US$0.50 to US$2.00 per square foot. But the low cost of vinyl sheets is usually offset by installation costs. Wood and tile vinyl can be installed by yourself, but vinyl boards usually require professional installation.

In discount flooring stores, the price of laminate flooring ranges from US$0.50 to US$3.00 per square foot. Brand-name laminate flooring starts at approximately US$3.00 per square foot, while prices for textured 12mm planks are as high as US$5.00 to US$8.00 per square foot.

For brand-name laminate flooring installed by professionals, expect to pay $6 and more per square foot on average.

Vinyl flooring is easy to install. It can be glued to the subfloor or placed loosely. Glued vinyl flooring comes in the form of tiles or planks, glued with liquid adhesives or self-adhesive adhesives. Loose vinyl floors are also called floating floors: the planks are connected side by side, but not to the subfloor.

All laminate floors are floating floors. Like vinyl flooring, the boards are connected side by side. The weight and friction of the floor prevent it from moving. Like vinyl flooring, laminate flooring can be easily cut by scratching and breaking it with a utility knife.

The vinyl floor is completely waterproof from top to bottom and all edges. Vinyl flooring soaked in water can dry out, and it will maintain its size and appearance.

Vinyl flooring, like any other plastic, is affected by heat. However, the thermal specifications that most vinyl flooring meets are usually much higher than expected in daily use (158 degrees Fahrenheit).

With its wood-based core, laminate flooring is particularly vulnerable when exposed to water. Allow water that collects on the surface-near open seams or edges-to enter from below and into the core. The core will absorb water. After drying, the core will not return to its original size.

The high-density fiberboard core of composite flooring is generally not affected by heat. But other layers, such as the top wear layer, may melt at extreme high temperatures. However, just like vinyl flooring, these temperatures far exceed the temperatures in most homes.

The resale value of vinyl flooring has traditionally been poor. In recent years, as thicker, more realistic products have entered the market, the status of vinyl flooring has improved. Even so, the resale value of vinyl flooring is usually lower than that of laminate flooring.

The resale value of high-quality laminate flooring is lower than solid hardwood and engineered wood. But laminate flooring still has a higher resale value than most types of vinyl flooring.

• Armstrong • CoreTEC • Cryntel • Karndean • Mannington • Metroflor

• Armstrong • AquaGuard • Dream House • Mohawk • Pergo • Shaw

Broadly speaking, vinyl flooring and laminate flooring are interchangeable in residential applications. Most of the factors that drive decision-making are personal factors: style choice, texture, and cost. The exception to the interchangeability of vinyl and laminate involves water. In high humidity environments, vinyl flooring is clearly a better choice than laminate flooring, making it an excellent choice for bathrooms. But for whole-house installations, laminate flooring usually makes sense because it provides a wide range of options.

Lee is a home improvement writer and content creator. As a professional home furnishing expert and avid DIY enthusiast, he has decades of experience in decorating and writing houses. When he doesn't use drills or hammers, Li likes to solve difficult family topics for readers in various media.

Lexie is an assistant editor responsible for writing and editing articles on various family-related topics. She has nearly four years of experience in the home improvement field and has used her expertise while working for companies such as HomeAdvisor and Angi (formerly Angie's List).