Gingerbread Exchange Community

I read on another site that putting an egg wash on the gingerbread, prior to baking, would help Royal Icing adhere better to the gingerbread.  Has anyone done this with the construction grade gingerbread on this site?  My design this year will have a LOT of piping directly on my gingerbread and last year I had a little problem with piped Royal Icing not adhering solidly.