Building material cladding components and methods

A method of installing a wall cladding system, the method comprising:

• providing a starter board comprising:
• a core member defining 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 including inner and outer lateral surfaces extending outward from the planar outer surface, at the second lateral surface, to an outer surface of the flange portion;
• and
• a laminate comprising a reinforcing mesh and a basecoat layer covering the reinforcing mesh, the laminate covering 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, such that the first lateral surface of the board profile portion and portions of the base and outer surfaces of the board profile portion proximate the first lateral surface are not covered by the laminate;
• securing the base surface of the starter board to a building substrate;
• securing one or more insulation boards to the building substrate above the starter board, the one or more insulation boards having an outer surface defining a thickness that substantially matches the uniform thickness of the board profile portion of the starter board;
• applying a mesh reinforced basecoat membrane to the outer surfaces of the starter board and the one or more insulation boards, with the basecoat membrane contacting and adhering to a basecoat layer of the starter board;
• and
• adhering a row of simulated bricks to the basecoat membrane with a lateral side of the simulated bricks being supported and aligned by the supporting flange.

A wall cladding system comprising:

• a starter board comprising:
• a core member defining 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 including inner and outer lateral surfaces extending outward from the planar outer surface, at the second lateral surface, to an outer surface of the flange portion;
• and
• a laminate comprising a reinforcing mesh and a basecoat layer covering the reinforcing mesh, the laminate covering 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, such that the first lateral surface of the board profile portion and portions of the base and outer surfaces of the board profile portion proximate the first lateral surface are not covered by the laminate;
• a mesh reinforced basecoat membrane applied to the outer surface of the starter board, with the basecoat membrane contacting and adhering to a basecoat layer of the starter board;
• and
• a row of simulated bricks adhered to the basecoat membrane.