Dear James: I just moved into an older house, and a lot of the drywall tape is coming loose and needs retaping. Why did it come loose, and how should I replace it? —Randall N. Dear Randall: It is not uncommon for drywall tape to come loose after many years. A change in humidity and temperature levels inside a house can gradually deteriorate the drywall compound that holds the drywall tape tight over the drywall joint. When you start to pull it off, you will likely notice additional loose sections. Before starting on this project, view some videos on YouTube of professionals applying the tape and compound. It is a learned skill. You will be surprised at how little sanding they end up having to do. On your first attempts, expect to apply many coats and do a lot of sanding. Applying drywall tape is one of the final tasks …