Gwinnett & Hall Counties · GA · Est. 1987
Stump Grinding in Buford, GA
Old stumps ground out so the ground can be mowed, planted or built on again — with the utility locate requested first, as Georgia law requires, and real care around Buford’s shallow gas service lines.
✓Licensed & Insured
✓40 Yrs Exp.
✓Free Estimates
Serving Buford, GA
Stump Grinding in Buford, Done by Our Own Crew
A stump looks like the easy part of a tree job. Underground it is not: the grinder works right where gas, water, cable and irrigation lines run, and in Buford the gas line to a house is often buried barely a foot down. Grinding safely starts days before the machine arrives.
R & R Tree Service provides stump grinding in Buford, GA, from our yard at 1381 Buford Highway in Buford — family-owned since 1987, TCIA members, licensed, bonded and insured. We grind stumps after our own removals and stumps someone else left behind — one in the front yard or a whole lot of them. The estimate is free and covers access, size and what is buried nearby. Call (678) 482-9994.
✓Georgia 811 locate request filed before every grind
✓Hand work inside the 18-inch tolerance zone around marked lines
✓Screens up to protect windows, cars and siding
✓Grindings raked back into the hole or hauled away — your choice
✓Stumps from other companies’ removals welcome
Serving Buford Since 1987
Do you have to call 811 before grinding a stump in Buford?
Yes — Georgia’s dig law treats stump removal as excavation. The Georgia Underground Facility Protection Act says tree cutting is routine work but stump removal is excavation, and a stump grinder is motor-powered excavating equipment. Nobody may excavate with that kind of equipment until a locate request has gone to the utilities protection center with the notice the law requires — at least two business days, and Georgia 811 advises allowing three.
- Georgia’s dig law treats stump removal as excavation, so a locate request comes first.
- Allow about three business days for every utility to respond.
- Inside 18 inches of a marked line, the work is done by hand.
The request is free, made online or by dialling 811, and gets a ticket number that tracks each utility’s response. Once every utility has marked or cleared the site, the work can start. We file it and build the wait into the schedule, so the only thing you notice is a few coloured flags in the yard.
Rules change. Confirm anything load-bearing with the local office before you cut — we do that check as part of every quote.
On the ground in Buford
What Is Under a Buford Stump?
How deep are Buford’s gas service lines?
The City of Buford says its gas mains typically run about two feet below the surface, and the half-inch to three-quarter-inch service lines into homes are buried 12 to 18 inches deep. A stump grinder cuts deeper than that. Buford Gas serves more than 46,000 customers across parts of Gwinnett, Hall, Barrow, Jackson and Walton counties, so this applies well beyond the city limits.
What is the 18-inch tolerance zone?
Georgia sets a tolerance zone of 18 inches either side of the outer edge of a marked line. Inside it, the law expects careful methods such as hand digging or soft digging instead of machinery. When a flag sits next to a stump, we grind what is safe and take the rest down by hand — or leave a section rather than gamble.
What will 811 not mark?
Locators mark utility lines up to where they connect to your service, and the City of Buford’s gas responsibility ends at your meter. The lines to a grill, yard light, pool heater or workshop heater are yours, and so are sprinkler lines and invisible dog fences. Show us where any private lines run before we start.
Will the city collect the grindings?
The City of Buford does not collect debris from contracted tree work, so the grindings are ours or yours to deal with. Most people have us rake them back into the hole to settle; others keep them as mulch for the beds. If you want the spot ready for topsoil and seed, we haul them away.
More in Buford
Our Other Tree Services in Buford
R & R Tree Service offers licensed, bonded, and insured tree removal, trimming, stump grinding, mulching, and more throughout Buford, GA.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Deadwood, clearance and crown work that keeps a healthy tree healthy.
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Local Coverage
Serving All of Buford
We serve residential and commercial clients throughout Buford, including these neighborhoods and surrounding areas.
Historic Downtown Buford
Hamilton Mill area
Buford Dam Road neighborhoods
Near the Mall of Georgia
Wherever you are in Buford, we're just a phone call away.
Trusted Tree Care in Buford Since 1987
Our Advantage
Your Trusted Local Experts in Buford
We understand the unique tree care needs in Buford's neighborhoods and take pride in protecting your home or business while enhancing the natural beauty of your landscape.
Family-Owned Since 1987
Nearly four decades working North Georgia trees, from our yard on Buford Highway.
Our Own Crew and Equipment
We never subcontract. The crew that quotes the job does the job, with our own crane.
Licensed, Bonded and Insured
Comprehensive liability and workers’ comp, and members of the Tree Care Industry Association.
Free On-Site Estimates
We quote at the tree, not from a photo, and the price on the quote is the price you pay.
24/7 Emergency Response
A real person answers (678) 482-9994 when a tree comes down at night.
How It Works
Our Simple Process in Buford
From first call to final cleanup, we make professional tree care easy for Buford homeowners.
01
Locate First
Utility lines are marked through Georgia 811 before the grinder touches the ground, as state law requires for digging.
02
Quote by Stump
Price set by stump size, access and how deep you want it ground — below grass level or deep enough to replant.
03
Grind
Stump and surface roots ground into chips, with screens up to protect windows, cars and siding.
04
Backfill or Haul
Grindings used to backfill the hole, or hauled off so you can add topsoil and seed.
What Clients Say
Trusted by Buford Homeowners
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★★★★★
"For the past eight years, R and R Tree Service has meticulously tended to our landscape needs. From pine tree removal to diagnosing damaged or diseased trees, I fully and completely trust this honest and hard working crew. They estimate fairly and give competitive prices. It's reassuring to know they will 'take care of business'."
"
★★★★★
"We have used R and R Tree Service since we moved to the Buford area over 16 years ago. They are professional, dependable, and do an excellent job. Their crane service is a definite advantage. There is never any damage to surrounding trees."
"
★★★★★
"Within 24-hours of being contacted, Randy and his team gave me a quote and removed two mature trees uprooted during Hurricane Helene. Arrived at the crack of dawn and finished before lunch. True professionals."
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Every Tree Service We Offer in Buford
Full details on the licensed, insured tree care R & R provides in Buford. Tap any service to learn more.
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Stump Grinding in Nearby Towns
Buford questions
Stump Grinding in Buford: Common Questions
How close to a gas or water line can you grind?
Georgia’s tolerance zone is 18 inches either side of a marked line, and inside it the law expects careful methods like hand digging rather than machinery. In Buford that matters because household gas service lines are often only 12 to 18 inches deep. Next to a flag, we grind what is safe and do the rest by hand.
Will 811 mark my sprinkler lines, my grill gas line or my dog fence?
No. Utility locators mark lines up to where they connect to your service; the City of Buford’s gas responsibility stops at your meter, and the lines to grills, yard lights and pool heaters belong to you. Show us where any private lines run before we start.
How long do I wait for the locate?
The law sets a minimum of two business days after the request, and Georgia 811 advises allowing three. Weekends and holidays do not count. We file the request when you book, so the grind is scheduled for after every utility has responded.
How deep do you grind?
Deep enough to cover with grass or mulch, set on site around what is underground. If you plan to plant a new tree or build on the spot, tell us at the estimate so we can plan the depth and how far to chase the surface roots.
Can I put the grindings out for the City of Buford to collect?
Not when a contractor did the work — the city does not pick up debris from contracted tree work. We rake the grindings back into the hole or haul them away, whichever you prefer.
Do you grind stumps left by another company?
Yes. Stump grinding is a standalone service: one stump or a yard full of them. The free estimate covers access, stump size and what is buried nearby.
What affects the price of stump grinding in Buford?
The stump's diameter, how far the surface roots run, access for the grinder through gates and over slopes, how many stumps there are, and how close they sit to marked utility lines, where work slows to hand methods. We quote on site for free; several stumps in one visit cost less each than separate trips.
Will the stump grow back after grinding?
Most do not. Some species — sweetgum and some oaks among them — can send up sprouts from roots left in the ground. If new shoots appear, they are easy to clip, and we can come back for any that keep returning.
Sources: Georgia Underground Facility Protection Act (via Georgia 811) · Georgia 811 — How It Works (2025) · City of Buford — Gas Department · City of Buford — Gas customer responsibilities
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When you need trusted tree service in Buford, GA, turn to the professionals at R & R Tree Service. We deliver quality work, excellent customer service, and affordable rates every time.
Phone
(678) 482-9994
Email
accounting@randrtreeservice.com
Address
1381 Buford Hwy, Buford GA 30518
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Licensed · Insured · Serving Buford Since 1987