The Martelli board will become grooved if you are not using the cutter correctly. Watch their YouTube tutes and troubleshooting videos. I had this problem, because I was holding the cutter wrong and the blade was tipping at an angle, not straight-up vertical. If you are not using their cutter, that can also contribute to the condition of the board. The board is designed to work with the ergonomic cutter. My first board did not last very long at all, all because I was using the cutter wrong. If you go to a quilt show where Martelli is in the vendor area, they can show you in person how to hold and cut. There is a learning curve to their system. Usually about 15 minutes.