Getting glue off concrete steps

Q: How can I get old carpet glue off the concrete front porch of my house? I stripped the carpet a few years ago, and I’ve tried a blowtorch, household ammonia and a lot of scraping. Nothing works. I’m planning to install ceramic tiles on the porch. Can I put them directly over the old carpet glue?

A: I've dealt with problems like yours before, and I have a couple of suggestions for you. I'd start by making several more attempts to remove the old carpet glue. What works depends on what's actually sticking to your steps, and my first choice would be a solvent made especially for the job. One is called Removall Flooring Adhesive Remover (call 800-204-6278 for dealers). Another that I've used successfully to remove all kinds of troublesome substances is called Greensolv (www.greensolv.com; 866-826-8400). Also, get yourself a sharp ice scraper to remove the softened glue. The kind with a long wooden handle and a straight-edged blade works well. It’s usually used to remove ice from sidewalks.