Mat-faced board

A gypsum board comprising:

• (a) a gypsum core comprising a crystalline matrix of set gypsum, the core having a face surface and a back surface;
• (b) a first mat having an outer surface and an inner surface, the first mat facing the face surface of the core, the first mat comprising a first region adjacent to the outer surface defined along a horizontal plane of the mat, and a second region adjacent to the inner surface defined along a horizontal plane of the mat, wherein the first region is more wettable than the second region;
• and optionally
• (c) a second mat having an outer surface and an inner surface, the second mat facing the back surface of the core, the second mat comprising a third region adjacent to the outer surface of the second mat defined along a horizontal plane of the mat, and a fourth region adjacent to the inner surface defined along a horizontal plane of the mat, wherein the third region is more wettable than the fourth region;
• the first region exhibiting a contact angle of about 60° or less when contacted with a coating material, and the second region exhibiting a contact angle of about 60° or greater when contacted with the same coating material, the first region exhibiting a lower contact angle than the second region.

A gypsum board comprising:

• (a) a gypsum core comprising a crystalline matrix of set gypsum, the core having a face surface and a back surface;
• (b) a first mat having an outer surface and an inner surface, the first mat facing the face surface of the core, the first mat comprising a first region adjacent to the outer surface defined along a horizontal plane of the mat, and a second region adjacent to the inner surface defined along a horizontal plane of the mat, wherein the first region is less dense than the second region, and optionally
• (c) a second mat having an outer surface and an inner surface, the second mat facing the back surface of the core, the second mat comprising a third region adjacent to the outer surface of the second mat defined along a horizontal plane of the mat, and a fourth region adjacent to the inner surface defined along a horizontal plane of the mat, wherein the third region is less dense than the fourth region;
• the first region of at least one of the mats exhibiting a lower contact angle when contacted with a coating material than the second region upon contact with the same coating material.