Carbon fiber mats are embedded in a coating by first rolling on a coating of e.g. epoxy on the floor or wall, then applying sheets of fine carbon fibers, (optionally) removing the carbon fiber which is not adherent after the coating has dried, then applying one or more additional top coats of coating to additionally embed the carbon fibers. The result is an electrically conductive floor and/or wall coating system useful in antistatic rooms such as clean rooms, operating rooms, etc. Coatings can be solvent based or waterborne urethanes, epoxies, alkyds, polyethylenes, acrylics, vinyls, vinyl acetates, esters, polyesters, sulfones, polysulfones, silicones, polysilicones and others. The preferred mats are carbon fiber "veils" or "paper" generally having a density of about 0.75 oz./square yard.