Sometimes you find furring wood strips if you are lucky, other times you have to use plastic anchors, sometimes you cheat and drill into metal corner beads, sometimes you mount the brackets from the top, sometimes on the side, wherever you find a way to bite into something. 

Also, call a local scrapper, they usually will take other garbage too just to get the metal.

@Michael BickelHere is some information regarding the solo 401k and the self-directed IRA:e Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k Similarities Both were created by congress for individuals to save for retirement;Both may be invested in alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals tax liens, promissory notes, private company shares, and stocks and mutual funds, to name a few;Both allow for Roth contributions;Both are subject to prohibited transaction rules;Both are subject to federal taxes at time of distribution;Both allow for checkbook control for placing alternative investments;Both may be invested in annuities;Both are protected from creditors;Both allow for nondeductible contributions;Both are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m); andThe Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company (IRA LLC)  is used;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2015; the solo 401k contribution limit is $53,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)

I just can't see how owning precious metals will help me in a economic meltdown.

Granted, these older buildings have EMT metal conduits so the conduit connections do provide some rigidity and support, but they cannot be counted on especially these set screws could come loose. 

Might be able to go over the garage door with some caulk, bondo, or sheet metal/vinyl rather then replace the whole thing

@Mike Malicad,first please re-read what @Mark Ainley said. the average life for oven/range and washer is 2-3 years (from brand new) with a large tenant family.now for buying new, and new card offers with 1 year/2year 0%:-sears or sears outlet (for scratch and dent)-talk with the local homedepot/lowes/menards, especially the manager on duty or appliance desk-abt -all of them deliver southside, and they may even install + remove old appliances (for a fee) (if your metal garbage collectors are not active in your area..)

This went in for years until finally the system went down twice in a single season however with the new units(actually replaced both coils but charged me over a grand for freon again.

The other 5 acres has a 1500 sq ft 3 bed, 1 bath SF home in good repair with a 2100 sq ft metal shop (also in good repair) and then has 3 mobile homes separated a good ways from the house and on their own septics.  

Personally, if an applicant met all your requirements (e.g. income criteria, past housing screening (no evictions), credit screening, no criminal history) then you shouldn't discriminate if they have public assistance.