Regarding Sql server 2014 express edition
The size limit on Express Edition is for the database size, not the data file size. 

You can have ten 1GB files, or one 10GB file.

If your data is larger than 10GB, you'll need to move some data to a different database. 

Can you get around this?

Sure.

Say your database had one table that was 5GB, and the sum size of every other table was 5GB, putting you at the size limit. 


Create a second database, and move your 5GB table into that database. 
Drop the original table in the original database.
Create a synonym in the original database, with the name of the original table, and point it at the new table in the new database.
Existing code will "just work" and you'll have expanded your capacity beyond 10GB.