To provide a new coated nonwoven fabric particularly suited for a facer on gypsum wallboard and other substrates and laminates of various types, and further to provide a method of making the coated fabric.

This fabric preferably contains a major portion of glass fibers and a minor portion of a resinous binder. The coating is preferably permeable and reduces fiber dust and abrasion with relatively coarse, relatively inexpensive glass fibers in the fabric. Contrary to previous coating methods, the coated fabric is made in-line on a wet fabric forming production line by applying a wet foam binder onto the wet fabric followed by drying and curing in-line.