A gypsum board which comprises a set gypsum core sandwiched between and faced with fibrous mats, wherein a free surface of one of said mats is pre-coated with a combination of a mineral pigment, optionally an inorganic adhesive binder and an organic binder, preferably a hydrophobic, UV resistant polymer latex adhesive binder applied to said surface as an aqueous coating composition, said aqueous coating composition upon drying and setting providing a pre-coated mat satisfying certain morphology requirements.