I am looking for an uncommon sized single hung window. I need about 54 wide X 30 tall. I just got done installing a vinyl Pella window from Lowes. I did not like the fact that it had nail fins, instead of being able to nail or screw it in sideways to the frame, leaving the siding undamaged. I wound up having to do a LOT of extra work finishing the wood siding covering up the nail fin area (after i had to cut it out).
Now I have 1 more window (just like the one I replaced) to replace. Where could I find one that screws into the frame without a nail fin?

 

You will need a single hung slider if it is 54x30. Anyplace can get you one.

You can always cut the nail fin off, but it is generally good to have a nail fin if you are installing it into a rough opening. If you want a retrofit window (pocket replacement) you need to make that clear when you order it. If windows come wrong or are not what you expected, you have no one to blame but yourself if you are the one ordering it. Many windows will come with a fin, and if you want to install it as a pocket window, you just cut the fin off. Keeps them from having to order and stock 2 different styles. If you didn't know that, that a probably what you should have done with the last window.

 

What is a "slider"?
BTW this is the 1st window that I installed that had nail fins.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/ThermaStar-...-5-in/50201027

 

Oh. I see you have your numbers turned around. Yes. A single hung that is 30x54.

Window measurements are always expressed as width x height. 30x54.

In your first post you said 54 wide.

 

Yes it is taller than it is wide. See link. 54" tall.

 

One problem with cutting the fin off is you are losing a lot of your weather resistance. Now you'll be depending on caulk. When you screw through the frame you also have to be very careful to shim it well and not bow it, or again, you can have leaks as well as poor operation.

Most people look at the ease and better weatherproofing of installing it with the fin as more than a trade off for modifications to the siding.

 

It seems like they don't even make windows without fins for this type of window. Well if I have to do it with the fins it should at least go a little faster this time since I'd be installing the same window for the 2nd time. The first Window took me about a week to deal with. Maybe I can knock it out in 5 days this time.

 

What kind of siding? It really shouldn't be that hard. Trim back the siding to the edge of the fin by thickness of trim used. Put a bead of caulk around the opening, install window using a couple of roofing nails, shim the bottom level/square, finish nailing/screwing. Tape over the fin starting at the bottom, tucking the tape under the siding. Install trim.

I mean, that's the basic process...depending of course on siding type and details.

 

Complicating matters is that the siding at the left was not touching the stud. I had to cut back the siding even more to build out the stud to support the loose siding.

 

All you need to do in that case is cut any nails holding the stud, add another stud onto it, knock them both back another 1 1/2" so that one is behind the siding, then nail the siding to it.

After seeing what you are doing, yes, you definitely want the fin. Since you have no sheathing or wrb, (your siding is the sheathing) some guys would put the fin right on top of the siding, then add trim over it to cover the fin. You would need to add a lot of caulk behind the fin, esp on top.