A starter board for a wall cladding system includes a core member and a laminate. The core member defines a board profile portion including parallel, planar base and outer surfaces defining a uniform thickness, the base surface extending from a first lateral surface to a second lateral surface, and a supporting flange portion extending outward from the planar outer surface, at the second lateral surface, to an outer surface of the flange portion. The laminate includes a reinforcing mesh and a basecoat layer covering the reinforcing mesh, and covers the second lateral surface of the board profile portion, the inner and outer lateral surfaces of the supporting flange portion, the outer surface of the supporting flange portion, and portions of the base and outer surfaces of the board profile portion proximate the supporting flange portion.