Blog
Grinding a stump — and especially pulling the root ball for a full removal — goes deeper into the yard than almost any other project. Here's what 811 actually covers, and what it doesn't.
811 is the national "call before you dig" number. Dialing it (or filing a request online) connects you to your state's one-call center — Washington 811 or Idaho 811, depending on where the job is — which notifies the utility companies with lines near your address. It's a free service; there's no charge to request a locate.
A mower or an edger never leaves the top inch or two of soil. Grinding a stump goes well below that, and digging out a root ball for a full removal goes deeper still — right into the zone where sprinkler lines, low-voltage lighting, invisible fence wire, and utility lines often sit. Most of that is invisible until someone hits it.
The important nuance: 811 locates mark utility-owned lines up to the meter or connection point. Anything on your side of that — your own sprinkler system, landscape lighting, or invisible fence — is usually not covered by the free locate. That part relies on what you know about your own yard.
In broad strokes:
Exact wait times and ticket validity windows are set by each state's one-call center, not by us — if timing matters for your project, confirm current numbers with Washington 811 or Idaho 811 directly.
We do. When you book a job with us, we submit the 811 request as part of scheduling — you don't need to call it in yourself.
Tell us about the job and anything you know is buried nearby — we'll take it from there.