The only problem I've encountered is with certain metals leaving marks on the porcelain.

I have a ton of tools to work on cars and to work with metal, but house rehab is new to me and I don’t have a lot of tools that can be used for that.

In spite of bond price charts, precious metals price charts, stock charts, housing charts, interest rates and consumer sentiment all screaming that a correction should already be underway, it could still take several weeks, months or even years before the bottom inevitably falls out.

How about painting it black and enclose the metal posts with wood and paint it the same color as the door?

I am thinking I need to "cover" that area with some locked metal but I am unsure as what to devise...Any suggestions anyone?

If you really want to get all the water out, there should be a valve on the side of the tank near the bottom, either plastic or metal, with garden hose threads on it. 

Geothermal heating, sustainable, boxy but sleek, flat roofs, metal panels.... 3 car garage, 3800 sq ft or so..

Some lenders have a "no metal building" policy.

Instead, I bought a solid core metal door from Home Depot for about $125 (and another $50 in odds and ends), then began the awful task of making it fit.

I give them a sales pitch on a house and a nice metal pen with my advertising (2500 are floating around the Midwest).