Driveways

How steep a Melbourne driveway can be, why cars scrape at the grade changes, which surfaces grip in the wet, and where the water has to go on a hill block.

A shared driveway is governed by the easement on your title. How to read it, who can park, who pays for repairs and where to go when neighbours disagree.

Walk out the front of most Melbourne homes and the driveway takes up more of the view than the garden

A cracked or stained driveway does not always need replacing. Here is how to tell whether a resurface will do the job or whether the base underneath has actually failed.

What permeable driveways actually are, why Melbourne councils are warming to them, the main paving options, and what upkeep it takes to keep one draining properly.

Why a new or widened driveway and the vehicle crossover usually need council approval in Melbourne, plus street trees, kerb and stormwater considerations and the risk of skipping it.

How to stop a driveway pooling water and keep run-off away from your home in Melbourne: getting the fall right, channel drains, where stormwater can legally go, and the licensed-plumber line.

Comparing driveway surfaces for Melbourne homes: plain, coloured and exposed-aggregate concrete, pavers, asphalt and gravel on look, durability, maintenance and drainage.