A resin-impregnated endless belt for a long nip press or calender of the shoe type, or for other papermaking and paper-processing applications, has a base fabric in the form of an endless loop with an inner surface, an outer surface, a machine direction and a cross-machine direction. The base fabric has machine-direction (MD) structural elements and cross-machine-direction (CD) structural elements in an open structure wherein at least some of the MD structural elements and CD structural elements are spaced apart from one another. The MD structural elements cross the CD structural elements at a plurality of crossing points, where they are joined to one another by mechanical, chemical or thermobonding means. A coating of a first polymeric resin is on the inner surface of the base fabric. The first polymeric resin impregnates and renders the base fabric impermeable to liquids, and forms a layer on the inner surface thereof. The coating is smooth and provides the belt with a uniform thickness. A method for manufacturing the belt, using a smooth and polished cylindrical mandrel with a spacer ring slidably disposed thereon, is also shown.