A method for coating a material having a plurality of fibers includes treating at least a portion of the fibers by applying a liquid solution over at least a portion of the fibers of the material in which the liquid solution includes a polymer dispersed in a liquid medium, drying at least a portion of the liquid solution applied over the fibers of the material to obtain a dried polymeric material that forms a network of discontinuous dried polymeric particles over the fibers, applying to at least a portion of the fibers a first coating composition comprising a film-forming resin that interacts with the dried polymeric material, and drying the first coating composition to form a first coating layer over at least a portion of the fibers. A coated material is also included.