Cover Story piece on the scarcity of contractors in southern Maine. Plumbers,

Cover Story piece on the scarcity of contractors in southern Maine. Plumbers, electricians, floor sanders, painters, roofers, and carpenters have so much work, they rarely even return calls from new customers. The value of residential contracts for construction in Maine increased by 7.9 percent in 1997 and by 28.3 percent in 1998, according to the U.S. Census. This year, building permits for single and multi-families from January to March surged by 68 percent. The increase in demand is also increasing labor prices at a time when the cost of materials is also going up. With comments by local contractors Mike Monaghan of Monaghan Woodworks, and Kaile Warren of Rent-A-Husband fame, both located in Portland